JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State men's tennis team will open the 2013 season on Saturday against nationally ranked and in-state rival Auburn at AU's Yarbrough Tennis Center on the AU campus.

The Gamecocks and Tigers begin action at 11 a.m.

Jax State is coming off a 12-13 season in 2012 and advanced to the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament last season.  AU, ranked 21st in the preseason by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, finished 18-10 last year and made a second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament a season ago.

Veteran head coach Steve Bailey, who begins his 36th year at JSU, has experience returning on the men's squad.  The 2012-13 men's team features four seniors including All-Ohio Conference performers last season – Igor Santos and Nenad Marcec. Santos put together an impressive singles and doubles record during the 2012 season.  The Campo Grande, Brazil-native posted a 16-6 overall mark in singles with all 16 wins coming at the No, 2 spot in the line up.  Santos turned in an unblemished 7-0 mark against OVC competition at No. 2 and 7-1 in all OVC tilts.

Marcec was a mainstay in the win column at No. 3 singles.  The Belgrade, Serbia-product carded a 17-5 overall record and 6-2 in the OVC.  Marcec registered 16 of his wins at No. 3 and won eight of his last ten matches.  In doubles, Marcec and Axel Sundberg have been Jax State's top tandem and finished the regular season at 13-9.

The match at Auburn is the first of 13 matches away from Jacksonville for the Gamecocks.  The first home match is set for March 15 against Alabama State.