LAKE CHARLES, La. – Led by doubles victories on all three days, the South Alabama men's tennis team completed its first competition of the fall season Saturday at the Lake Charles Invitational, hosted by Sun Belt rival Louisiana.

"I think it was a good weekend overall," said South Alabama head coach Nick Brochu. "I think to evaluate if this weekend was a successful weekend or not, we can't just look at wins and losses. It was mostly about how we compete, because fall is to get ready for the spring. This fall tournament was to get ready for regionals, which is an important tournament later on in October. We had two good days. I believe Friday was a great day, and today was a really good day. There was a lot of fighting. We stayed focused and we weren't playing shy. We were confident. I'm happy with this first weekend."
 
DAY ONE
 
Tournament play started strong for South Alabama as the doubles team of Jack Clements and Joaquim Almeida earned a 6-4 victory over Louisiana. Rostislav Halfinger and Juan Accossatto then teamed up to defeat their counterparts from Rice in a clean, 6-0 sweep.
 
In singles play, the Jaguars defeated a combination of players from Southern Miss and LSU in four of seven matches. Clements dominated his opponent from Southern Miss with a pair of 6-1 sets, and Halfinger also claimed a win in straight sets (6-3, 6-4). Braden Hannig and freshman Theo Mottier then got in on the action with identical 6-4, 6-4 victories. Hannig defeated his opponent from Southern Miss while Mottier earned a victory over a player from LSU.
 
DAY TWO
 
Saturday was another strong start for the Jags with two wins in three doubles matches, this time against UTSA. Clements and Halfinger both won again, but this time as partners in 6-2 fashion. Javier Montoya got his first victory of the tournament with Accossatto as his partner. It took a tiebreaker, but the duo earned a 7-6 (5) decision to win doubles for South.
 
The Jaguars added three victories in singles play on Saturday, with Montoya leading the way on a strong showing. Montoya defeated his Louisiana opponent 6-2, 6-2 for a straight-set win. Clements also gathered his fourth victory of the tournament by defeating a Rice player after going the distance 1-6, 6-4, 10-7. Halfinger was the final win of the day for USA on a 6-4, 6-1 result over his opponent from Rice.
 
DAY THREE
 
For the third-straight day, the Jags won two of three doubles matches, this time against a combination of players from Southern Miss and LSU. Halfinger and Hannig won a tight match 6-4 while Almeida and Montoya cruised to a 6-1 victory.
 
South Alabama faced UTSA in singles play on the final day of competition, and split six matches with the Roadrunners. Clements finished a near-perfect weekend by winning 6-3, 6-2, and Almeida picked up a come-from-behind victory with a 5-7, 6-4, 10-5 result. Accossatto was the final win of the tournament, also grinding out a tough victory on a score of 6-3, 2-6, 10-5.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Jaguars will travel to Southern Miss for their next competition at the Golden Eagle Fall Invitational. Tournament play will run Friday, Oct. 6 through Saturday, Oct. 7.
 
FOLLOW THE JAGS

For complete coverage of South Alabama men's tennis, follow the Jags on social media @SouthAlabamaMTN (Twitter), /SouthAlabamaJaguars (Facebook), @southalabamamtn (Instagram) or visit the official home of South Alabama athletics at usajaguars.com.