MOBILE, Ala. – Currently boasting a five-match win streak, the University of South Alabama women's tennis team will take on Sun Belt Conference opposition for the second time this season when they travel to Statesboro, Ga. for a pair of matches this weekend.

The Jaguars (13-4) will face host Georgia Southern Saturday at 11 a.m. CDT and Appalachian State on Sunday at 7 a.m. CDT.

"It's the end of the season and Sun Belt opponents, so these matches are pretty important as we start jockeying for seeding within the conference," Keyser said.

Saturday's match will the Jags' first on-court action in nearly two weeks. The team's last match was a 4-3 win at North Florida on March 12.

"The break came at a perfect time for us because it broke the season up into two parts," Keyser said. "It was a mental break away from the tennis too. Every team is different, but this team really needed a break, so hopefully, as we finish the season, we'll be a lot fresher and mentally alert as we move forward."

In the Jaguars' current unbeaten run, they have been nearly unstoppable in doubles, compiling a 10-1 combined record, including 8-0 at flights 2 and 3. Senior Monica Mitta (Fairhope, Ala.) and sophomore Alexandria Stiteler (Bradenton, Fla.) are 3-0 at No. 2 over that span and 5-0 overall on the season.

Sophomore Patricia Martins (Lisbon, Portugal) and senior Laura Valkova (Piestany, Slovakia) have a team-best nine doubles wins this spring, with eight coming on court 1.

"We put a huge emphasis on doubles because it's so important in college," Keyser said. "We do the basics pretty well within doubles and we're getting to a stage where we're executing it at a pretty high level."

Georgia Southern enters the weekend with a 9-5 record, but have lost their last three outings, all during a recent swing through Florida, which included a 4-0 defeat at No. 26 Florida International. Prior to their recent skid, the Eagles won four straight, and GS is 6-0 on its home courts.

"That's the thing with women's tennis in the Sun Belt – top to bottom, I think we're pretty bunched up and there are no easy matches out there," Keyser stated. "Georgia Southern, App State or whoever we play in the conference, will be a strong match."

App State is 4-14 overall and has five in a row and nine of its last 10. The Mountaineers have already completed their four-match home schedule and are in the midst of a season-ending nine-match road swing.

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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