Troy Set for Sun Belt Opener, Three Other Matches

TROY, Alabama – The Troy men's tennis team will play four matches in two days in Louisiana, highlighted by a match at UL Lafayette on Thursday. The Trojans and Cajuns will each be facing their first Sun Belt opponent when they face off at 2:30 p.m. at the Cajun Courts.

Troy will also take on Xavier (La.), an NAIA team, on Thursday at 2 p.m. as the Trojans will send another group of student-athletes to take on the Gold Rush on a neutral court at Franco's Health Club in Mandeville, La.

Troy will then travel to take on New Orleans on Friday at 2 p.m. at the University Tennis Center. The Trojans will also take on Mississippi Gulf Coast at 2 p.m. on Friday.

Troy (1-9), the defending Sun Belt champion, has not played in nearly two weeks, last taking the courts in a February 13 loss at No. 32 NC State. The Trojans have played all 10 of their matches away from home with nine of the 10 coming against ranked opponents.

Pablo Moreno has led the Trojans with a 6-3 singles record this spring, beating opponents from No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 29 Florida State, No. 32 NC State, No. 55 Auburn, No. 63 Alabama and No. 66 UTSA.

The Trojans went 7-0 last season against Sun Belt opponents, including a win over UL Lafayette in the Sun Belt Championships semifinals.

UL Lafayette (5-5) has played four straight matches against ranked opponents, including a home loss to No. 35 Drake last weekend. The Cajuns have beaten ranked teams in No. 65 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and No. 66 North Florida.

Troy and UL Lafayette have one mutual opponent this season, UTSA. Troy's lone win of the season came against the then No. 66 Roadrunners on January 23, but the Cajuns lost to the then No. 62 Roadrunners on January 29.

Xavier (La.) (4-2), the fourth-ranked NAIA team in the nation, has won four straight matches, including a 6-1 decision over NCAA Division I opponent Nicholls. Both of the Gold Rush's losses this season came against UL Lafayette.

New Orleans (3-0), like Troy, has not played since February 13 when the Privateers defeated Alcorn State at home. UNO's other two wins have come over Jackson State and Loyola (La.), an NAIA team.

Mississippi Gulf Coast (1-0), the 19^th-ranked junior college team in the nation, hasn't completed a match since February 6 when it defeated Holmes, 9-0, at home.

Following this week's four matches, Troy will play its home opener on Friday, March 4, when Chattanooga visits the Lunsford Tennis Complex. Troy will also host Abraham-Baldwin on Saturday, March 5. The Trojans will also travel to Statesboro, Ga., to take on Sun Belt foe Georgia Southern and Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday, March 5.

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Players Mentioned

Pablo Moreno