Saturday, February 17
JACKSONVILLE
12 P.M.
Jacksonville State University
vs
#74 Troy
Men's Tennis Hosts Three Matches This Weekend
2/16/2024 8:31:00 AM | Men's Tennis
JACKSONVILLE – Gamecock men's tennis finally returns to the Jax State Tennis Courts this weekend as they open the home portion of their Spring 2024 schedule with three matches in Calhoun County. They take on Troy at 12 p.m. Saturday before hosting Lipscomb (11 a.m.) and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (3 p.m.) in a doubleheader on Sunday.
"The biggest thing I want to see from the team is evidence that we've learned and grown," head coach Trey Morris said. "Every match we play, we should be better intangibly from the match prior. I expect nothing but the same going into these matches."
Jacksonville State (3-3) will see its first action in two weeks following an extended training block. They opened the season on Jan. 13 and 14 in Tallahassee, Fla., splitting results versus Florida State and Mercer. After a road loss at Alabama on Jan. 21, they began February with a big 5-2 victory at Nicholls. Their road trip across the Bayou and Lone Star States concluded on Feb. 3, where the Red-and-White fell, 6-1, at No. 24 Baylor and swept Incarnate Word, 4-0.
The Gamecocks were slated to play at Kennesaw State last Sunday, but the likelihood of severe weather forced both sides to postpone that non-conference match to Wed., Feb. 28 in Cobb County, Ga. Therefore, Jax State should be well-rested and ready to go for their 2024 home opener on Saturday.
"This training block has been incredible," Morris said. "To push ourselves physically, not only in the weight room but also on the courts, with the shifts we've put in in the last week has been great for us. Our guys have responded well and I think we're in a really good place."
A successful start to the new year has resulted in solid starters for numerous Jacksonville State standouts. Senior Vanja Dorbnjac and freshman Marko Milosavljevic lead the team with three singles wins each. In doubles play, Dobrnjac, Liam Day, and Lucius Soller currently have three doubles wins a-piece so far as well. They will look for more positive results as they welcome three talented opponents to Jacksonville this weekend.
Troy (7-1) is traditionally a power in the Sun Belt Conference and has won seven of their first eight matches to begin the new year. They have added wins over Auburn-Montgomery (twice), Alcorn State (twice), Buffalo, Florida Gulf Coast, and West Alabama thus far, and fell in an all-out battle at Samford, 4-3, on Jan. 28. The Trojans topped Jax State, 6-1, last year in Pike County, in a match where the Gamecocks just could not catch some breaks down the stretch.
"We expect a great fight from Troy," Morris said. "They're a team that has been solid year-in and year-out. This one means a little bit more for our program because they've always been a great rival for Jacksonville State. We know we can go toe-to-toe with them, and we know we can take every spot in the lineup if we come in accepting the battle."
Sunday's doubleheader will open with a showdown with former ASUN Conference foe Lipscomb (3-2). The Bisons have picked up dominant wins over Alabama A&M, Cumberland, and Southern Indiana, but suffered a couple of tough losses versus Tennessee State and Norther Kentucky. The two sides did not face off last season, but Jacksonville State topped LU, 5-2, in their Senior Day match in Nashville, Tenn., on Apr. 16, 2022.
"Lipscomb has a new team, but they're a great squad," Morris said. "They have a lot of transfers as well as some freshmen impacting their starting lineup. Three or four of their top guys weren't Bisons last year, and that's a lot. We were able to see these guys in the Fall and we know all their guys can play, so we're expecting a battle from them."
Jax State and Mississippi Gulf Coast will meet for the first time ever on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs won 14 matches last season and placed 15th at the NJCAA Tournament at season's end. MGCCC is typically one of the top junior college squads in the southeast and will bring a group composed of seven Mississippi natives, two Portugal natives, and one Spaniard.
"MGCCC has always been a team that hovers around the Top 20 in the country," Morris said. "I'm sure they'll be a good team because their coaching staff does a great job. Our guys have to be ready and come in with an attacking mindset."
Links to follow along with live stats for this weekend's matches will be provided at JaxStateSports.com. The homestand continues for the Gamecocks next weekend as they play host to Furman on Sat., Feb. 24, and Chattanooga on Sun., Feb. 25. As always, admission to attend home matches at the Jax State Tennis Courts is free of charge.
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Men's Tennis), Instagram (@JaxStateMTEN), and X (@JaxStateMTEN) accounts.
"The biggest thing I want to see from the team is evidence that we've learned and grown," head coach Trey Morris said. "Every match we play, we should be better intangibly from the match prior. I expect nothing but the same going into these matches."
Jacksonville State (3-3) will see its first action in two weeks following an extended training block. They opened the season on Jan. 13 and 14 in Tallahassee, Fla., splitting results versus Florida State and Mercer. After a road loss at Alabama on Jan. 21, they began February with a big 5-2 victory at Nicholls. Their road trip across the Bayou and Lone Star States concluded on Feb. 3, where the Red-and-White fell, 6-1, at No. 24 Baylor and swept Incarnate Word, 4-0.
The Gamecocks were slated to play at Kennesaw State last Sunday, but the likelihood of severe weather forced both sides to postpone that non-conference match to Wed., Feb. 28 in Cobb County, Ga. Therefore, Jax State should be well-rested and ready to go for their 2024 home opener on Saturday.
"This training block has been incredible," Morris said. "To push ourselves physically, not only in the weight room but also on the courts, with the shifts we've put in in the last week has been great for us. Our guys have responded well and I think we're in a really good place."
A successful start to the new year has resulted in solid starters for numerous Jacksonville State standouts. Senior Vanja Dorbnjac and freshman Marko Milosavljevic lead the team with three singles wins each. In doubles play, Dobrnjac, Liam Day, and Lucius Soller currently have three doubles wins a-piece so far as well. They will look for more positive results as they welcome three talented opponents to Jacksonville this weekend.
Troy (7-1) is traditionally a power in the Sun Belt Conference and has won seven of their first eight matches to begin the new year. They have added wins over Auburn-Montgomery (twice), Alcorn State (twice), Buffalo, Florida Gulf Coast, and West Alabama thus far, and fell in an all-out battle at Samford, 4-3, on Jan. 28. The Trojans topped Jax State, 6-1, last year in Pike County, in a match where the Gamecocks just could not catch some breaks down the stretch.
"We expect a great fight from Troy," Morris said. "They're a team that has been solid year-in and year-out. This one means a little bit more for our program because they've always been a great rival for Jacksonville State. We know we can go toe-to-toe with them, and we know we can take every spot in the lineup if we come in accepting the battle."
Sunday's doubleheader will open with a showdown with former ASUN Conference foe Lipscomb (3-2). The Bisons have picked up dominant wins over Alabama A&M, Cumberland, and Southern Indiana, but suffered a couple of tough losses versus Tennessee State and Norther Kentucky. The two sides did not face off last season, but Jacksonville State topped LU, 5-2, in their Senior Day match in Nashville, Tenn., on Apr. 16, 2022.
"Lipscomb has a new team, but they're a great squad," Morris said. "They have a lot of transfers as well as some freshmen impacting their starting lineup. Three or four of their top guys weren't Bisons last year, and that's a lot. We were able to see these guys in the Fall and we know all their guys can play, so we're expecting a battle from them."
Jax State and Mississippi Gulf Coast will meet for the first time ever on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville. The Bulldogs won 14 matches last season and placed 15th at the NJCAA Tournament at season's end. MGCCC is typically one of the top junior college squads in the southeast and will bring a group composed of seven Mississippi natives, two Portugal natives, and one Spaniard.
"MGCCC has always been a team that hovers around the Top 20 in the country," Morris said. "I'm sure they'll be a good team because their coaching staff does a great job. Our guys have to be ready and come in with an attacking mindset."
Links to follow along with live stats for this weekend's matches will be provided at JaxStateSports.com. The homestand continues for the Gamecocks next weekend as they play host to Furman on Sat., Feb. 24, and Chattanooga on Sun., Feb. 25. As always, admission to attend home matches at the Jax State Tennis Courts is free of charge.
To stay up-to-date with the Gamecocks, follow their Facebook (Jacksonville State Men's Tennis), Instagram (@JaxStateMTEN), and X (@JaxStateMTEN) accounts.
Players Mentioned
Sunday, May 17
Saturday, May 16
Wednesday, May 13
Sunday, May 10
