MOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama men's tennis team looks to snap a two-match losing streak when they head to Corpus Christi, Texas Friday to take on Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in the 50th Annual H-E-B Tournament of Champions.

Last weekend, USA (8-6) fell to No. 19 Ole Miss and No. 74 North Florida.

"Since the last two matches, we've had a lot of team meetings," said USA head coach Nick Brochu. "We are a talented team, and we've had success in the past, but that doesn't mean anything. We've got to step up our game and be more focused."

The teams competing in the tournament are No. 15 Texas, South Alabama, TAMU-CC, Texas-San Antonio, Texas-Rio Grand Valley, Louisiana-Lafayette, DePaul, and Southern Miss.

"This year, the number one seed is going to be Texas, a Big 12 dominant team, so that's going to be awesome," Brochu said. "At the same time, we've got the teams that we know, and they are competitive every year like Corpus Christi. These teams are always inside the rankings, and there are also plenty of other competitive teams. There's always a high-level team."

The Jaguars will play their first round match Friday at 9:30 a.m. This meeting will be the fifth straight year the two teams will have played. Last season, the Islanders defeated the Jaguars 4-1. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi currently has a record of 9-4.

"It's tough to play them at home because when we go to the H-E-B, it's extremely windy," said Brochu. "They are used to the wind. That's their home court, and they practice in it every day. Last year we played them, and it was a close match. They're a very good team, and we've just got to make sure that we go point by point. They've got some great players, especially at the top, and they have some big fighters towards the bottom, so you've got to anticipate a long match."

Following their first match, South Alabama will play either DePaul or Southern Miss Friday afternoon.

"The H-E-B is so windy that anything can happen in the tournament," Brochu said. "Rarely the No. 1 seed wins the tournament. There are always upsets everywhere, but at the same time, everybody is ready to be competitive. So, we've just got to go match by match."

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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