JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (February 29, 2024) – The University of North Alabama men's tennis team stays in-state for its next dual, facing off against former Atlantic Sun Conference member and in-state rival Jacksonville State on the road Saturday, March 2.
North Alabama faces the Gamecocks amid its longest win streak in the Division I era, winning each of the last seven duals. Last time out, UNA traveled to Jackson, Miss. for a double-header with Jackson State and Alcorn State, both resulting in wins. The seven-match streak matching the longest since 2015, when UNA won seven-straight duals to end the season.
The Lions also look to extend their winning ways against Jacksonville State, taking the last two duals in a season sweep of the Gamecocks in 2023. UNA looks to earn their third-straight win over Jacksonville State for the first time since winning three straight from 1983-1985.
With the Gamecocks on a four-match winning streak and North Alabama off to its best start of the Division I era, the stage is set for a competitive contest against former in-state conference foes.
The dual will take place at the Jax State Tennis Courts with first serve scheduled for 2 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats, with full results and a recap posted on RoarLions.com following the action.
MATCHUP
North Alabama at Jacksonville State
Saturday, March 2, 2024
2 p.m.
Live Stats
SCOUTING THE LIONS: North Alabama heads to Jacksonville red-hot on the season, coming into the dual with a 7-3 record. UNA wins their singles matches at a 52.7 percent rate, but for doubles, their winning percentage increases to 73.9 percent. Each UNA player has at least two doubles wins this spring, with sophomore Lachlan Brain and junior Nazar Fedoryshyn winning eight matches apiece to lead the team. Brain has four wins from the second and third flight, while Fedoryshyn is 7-0 from No. 2 doubles. Freshman Birtan Duran is the leader in singles wins for UNA with a 7-2 record, including going 4-0 from No. 5 singles.
SCOUTING THE GAMECOCKS: Jacksonville State comes into the dual with a streak of its own, winning four straight and five of the last six. Last time out, the Gamecocks had a 2-0 weekend on Feb. 24-25, defeating Furman, 5-2, and Chattanooga, 6-1. JSU's Zach Murphy and Marko Milosavljevic have a 5-3 record in doubles — the most by any pair for the Gamecocks — while Vanja Dobrnjac leads with six doubles wins. Matei Palcau is the team leader in singles wins with a 6-4 record, and the head coach for the Gamecocks is Trey Morris.
SERIES HISTORY: The Lions and Gamecocks have met 59 times on the court, with the Lions holding a 30-29 advantage over Jacksonville State. North Alabama moved ahead in the series in 2023 with two wins over JSU on March 20 and April 5, with the former the first win over the Gamecocks in 30 years. The win came in dramatic fashion as Brain rallied from a set down to win his match, breaking a 3-3 tie and clinching the historic win for the Lions.
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