MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama men's tennis team (4-2) hits the road for an action packed weekend with two dual matches on the docket. The Jaguars will take on the Belmont Bruins (4-6) on Saturday, and then face a former Sun Belt foe, the MTSU Blue Raiders (3-5) on Sunday. 

South Alabama heads into the weekend with the number 11 ranked doubles team of Loic Cloes and Clement Marzol. The Jags duo is 4-1 on the season. Belmont boasts the 32nd ranked pair of Hendrik Inno and Marko Illic, they are 6-2 on the season. 

On the singles side, Marzol comes into the weekend with national ranking of 95 and a 4-2 record on the year. After being defeated in his first two matches of the season, Marzol has won the last four. On Sunday, the Jags will face MTSU's Gonzalo Morell Raschiatore who comes into the weekend with a national ranking of number 85. 

DUEL INFORMATION
MATCH 1
Opponent: Belmont
Date: Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. 
Place: Centennial Sportsplex, Nashville, Tenn.

MATCH 2
Opponent: MTSU
Date: Feb. 17 at 11 p.m. 
Place: Adams Tennis Complex, Murfreesboro, Tenn. 

NOTES
- The Jaguars are coming off a double header sweep of UAB and Samford last weekend in Birmingham, Ala. 
- After falling in their first two matches of the season, the Jaguars have won four in a row. 
- South Alabama fell 1-4 to MTSU last season on March 24 at the David Lubel Memorial Courts in Mobile, Ala. 
- Nathan Fruh saw Belmont players Grant Kelly and Dawson Blankenship at the 2018 CCB Collegiate Invitational this past fall in Birmingham. Fruh fell in three sets to both in separate singles matches, while the Belmont duo beat Santiago Di Loreto and Fruh in a doubles match, 8-7. 

THEY SAID IT
Head Coach Nick Brochu
On Belmont: "It's a heavy weekend. Number one, we are going to be playing indoors both matches, so thats something we will need to adjust and adapt to. Number two, we don't want to underestimate Belmont because their number one team in doubles is good. We saw them at nationals in fall and they are ranked in the nation so I'm sure their top three teams are really good in doubles. In singles, Belmont has always been competitive, and they are getting more competitive every year. Mauricio Antun (Director of Tennis) is doing a good job. It's definitely going to be a good match."

On MTSU: "That's a tough one. Last year they came here and beat us. MTSU is an old rivalry, they used be in the Sun Belt. We have had many battles back and forth with them. It's a big one. Last year they finished top 50. We were right there, right behind them in the rankings. I think it's a big match early in the season, so we're looking forward to everyone stepping up."

On Playing Indoors: "I think the only challenge is you need to adjust. There are some things that are better; there's no wind, no sun, but the game is faster. Guys with bigger serves and big forehands are going to have an advantage. Some guys on our team like playing indoors. I think when it comes down to doubles; doubles are more aggressive. It's not something we necessarily need to change as far as strategy, but the approach and the mentality during the game. We need to stay aggressive, we can't just relax and roll the balls in, that's not going to work. We played indoors last weekend against UAB so we've been there before, and that's why we go the day before and practice, to get used to it." 

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

Join the Baseline Club, the tennis-specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. All donations to the Baseline Club go directly to support the South Alabama men's and women's tennis programs. For more information on how you can join visit: http://jaguarathleticfund.com/baselineclub

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