NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team opened its 2012 season with a 5-1 loss at Tulane on Saturday at the Goldring Tennis Center.

The Gamecocks got off to a great start by claiming the doubles point, but struggled against the Conference USA squad in singles competition.

The JSU No. 1 tandem of Axel Sundberg and Nenad Marcec edged the Green Wave's team of Mark Idan and Joe Young, 8-6.  Jax State clinched the doubles point at No. 2 after the duo of Igor Santos and Jordan Cowling won the tiebreaker, 7-4, for the 9-8 win.

TU rebounded in singles play as they claimed all five matches to seal the win.  Sundberg, playing at the No. 1 singles spot fell to 76th-ranked Idan, 6-2, 6-2.  Marcec suffered a straight sets loss to Tulane's Shaye Wali, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 3.  Cowling battled Adam Bernstein of Tulane before falling, 6-3, 6-3. Rodrigo Rappaccioli clinched the Green Wave victory at No. 5 as he turned back JSU's Felipe Diaz, 7-5, 6-2.

The Gamecocks continue the season-opening road trip in Hattiesburg, Miss. on Sunday, Jan. 29 against Southern Mississippi.  Match time is set for Noon.