MOBILE, Ala. – Junior
Oliver Gingras (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada) clinched the 5-2 win for the University of South Alabama in Saturday's match against Auburn at the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Tennis Courts.
Auburn jumped out to a 2-0 lead after taking the doubles point and the first match in singles. No. 91
Maxime Hinnisdaels defeated senior
Tuki Jacobs (Windhoek, Namibia), ranked No. 50 in the nation by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1.
"It really looked like it was over," said USA head coach
Nick Brochu. "We sat down and said, we are making the mistakes, and we just have to fix them."
The Jaguars bounced back with a win from freshman
Loic Cloes (Remicourt, Belgium) over
Brandon Laubser 6-3, 6-4 on court No. 6. Sophomore
Lucas Gonzalez (Chateauroux, France) rallied to defeat
Dante Saleh 1-6, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 5, and freshman
Clement Marzol (Toulouse, France) took the lead for USA with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory over
Edward Nguyen on court No. 4.
"We talked about playing to win," Brochu said. "We don't play safe. We play to win, and that's when we are at our best."
Gingras secured the victory at No. 3 with a 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) win over
Conner Huertas del Pino.
"That's big," said Brochu. "Gingras stepped up, and he's been there before. Even as a freshman, he pulled out some big wins, so he has been in this position before. I don't think he felt the pressure."
In other singles action, senior
Juan Cruz Soria (San Juan, Argentina) defeated
Carles Sarrio 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 7-5 at No. 2.
"You've got to do what you've got to do," Brochu said. "We wanted that match, and I'm so proud of those guys."
In doubles, Saleh and Nguyen dropped Jacobs and Cloes 6-4 on court No. 2, and Hinnisdaels and Huertas secured the doubles point for Auburn by defeating Soria and Gingras 6-4 at No. 1.
The victory marks the fifth straight for the Jags, improving to 6-2 on the year.
"It's great tennis," said Brochu. "Not only were our guys playing well, we were playing a quality opponent. I am so grateful everyone showed up, and we won, so it's even better."
The Jaguars return to their home court Sunday at 11 a.m. to face Georgia State.
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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