MOBILE, Ala — The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released the final team rankings for the 2018-2019 season and the University of South Alabama men's tennis team, coming off of a 19-7 season, finished the year ranked number 55 to qualify for the 2020 ITA Kickoff Weekend.
The Jaguars defeated No. 65 Georgia State in the finals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and moved on to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, and 13th time in program history. Coach Nick Brochu and South Alabama upended the No. 44 Tulane Green Wave in the first round, 4-1 to reach the second round of the NCAA's in the Starkville Regional for back-to-back years.
Coach Brochu had this to say about the final ranking and the two big wins, "We are very happy and satisfied with the final ranking. Earlier in the season we had different goals. One of which was winning conference for the second year in a row; check. Our second goal was to repeat last year and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament; check. The last two goals were to pass the second round of nationals and finish top 40. It's a really big goal and we are getting closer every year. I thought the guys fought really well this season. While finishing 55, is a great accomplishment, we have to keep pushing towards a top 40 finish." he continued, "Top 55 in the nation, in division one, is something we definitely need to be proud of. Looking back on the season, we had some great moments. We beat some really good teams, some ranked teams. Tulane was probably the big highlight because it came at the NCAA's. Tulane is a very accomplished program over the last few years. And then beating Georgia State in the Sun Belt finals. Georgia State also had a great year, beat a lot of ranked teams. These were two good wins."
The Jaguars went 5-6 against teams in the top 71 of the final ITA rankings, with its lone loss of the season outside of those rankings coming against North Florida, 3-4. North Florida was part of four-day Florida swing for South Alabama starting on March 15. Up first in the three-match trip was No. 34 South Florida. The Jags fell to the Bulls, 3-4 but played well and had the opportunity to clinch with three match points. The Jaguars lost to the eventual American Athletic Conference champions, and No 31 ranked team of Central Florida three days later, but played well in the contest.
Coach Brochu had this to say about the trip and the opportunity. "When we look back, we wish that we could have finished some of the matches that we came close. Losing 4-3 to South Florida after having three match points. Same thing with Central Florida, we were really close winning on the remaining matches. Those are two top 34 teams right there. If we were just a little bit more lucky on that swing I think we could have easily been top 40. The gap between 55 and top 40 is not that big, and the guys realize this."
The spring season started off with a loss to to Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla. The Seminoles defeated the Jags 2-5 and finished the year ranked No. 26. Up next was the 2019 ITA Kickoff Weekend with the Jags competing in the Los Angeles regional. After falling to No. 38 UC Santa Barbara in the first round, South rebounded and defeated Cal Poly, 4-3. The Mustangs wrapped up the season at No. 71.
The win over Cal Poly started a ten-match winning streak for the Jags. That steak included wins over two teams that finished in the top 71. South Alabama handed the 63rd ranked Florida Atlantic Owls a 4-2 defeat on the Bruce David Lubel Memorial Courts, for their lone win over one of these opponents on home court. The Jags defeated No. 68 MTSU on the road back on Feb. 17.
The Jags season came to a close against No. 9 Mississippi State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament the day after the Jaguars defeated Tulane, but Brochu knows the student athletes are ready to compete again next season. "They are going to come back working even harder. I know they are working hard this summer. We are going to come back in the fall. We lost some players, but we are reloading with some talented freshman. Planning on playing a tough schedule in the fall to get them ready for next season. Overall looking back at the season, we had some great team wins, and some great individual and doubles performances. Back-to-back Conference Champions, reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and being top 55 is something we really need to be proud of. We have been a steady program for the last few years and we need to continue this."
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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