MOBILE, Ala. – Before leaving for Las Vegas — where she will play in her first tournament of the fall season this weekend — sophomore women's tennis player Alexandria Stiteler recorded this week's episode of "Inside JagNation," the weekly podcast of the University of South Alabama Department of Athletics.

The sophomore, who originally hails from Boston, Mass., but came to USA from Bradenton, Fla., was named both the Sun Belt Conference Student-Athlete and Freshman of the Year last spring and was a first-team all-league selection as well.  In recording a 28-7 singles mark on the year — including going 17-4 at the No. 1 position in dual matches — Stiteler was chosen the Sun Belt Player of the Week a school-record four times while becoming the first member of the program to earn a berth in the NCAA Singles Championship since 2007.  In her first season at the collegiate level, she went 4-2 against nationally-ranked opponents while climbing as high as No. 47 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings.

Click here for Episode 9 of "Inside JagNation"

In the episode, Stiteler talks about the difference competing during the fall and spring seasons, how she and her teammates have prepared for this semester's tournament schedule and what she does on the day of a match.  She also discusses what it was like to compete in junior tennis events on an international level, and balancing her tennis schedule and academic responsibilities prior to college.

Click here for "Inside JagNation" archives

Every episode of "Inside JagNation" can be downloaded for free by fans and supporters of South Alabama Athletics by searching for "South Alabama Jaguars" on iTunes.

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).

—USA—