LAFAYETTE, La. — Louisiana-Lafayette won all five completed matches Wednesday and prevented Nour Abbes from scoring in a 4-0 women's tennis victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
     The Ragin' Cajuns (2-0) snapped the two-dual win streak of the Gold Nuggets (3-3), who are ranked third in the NAIA. All three XU losses are to NCAA Division I opponents.
     It was the third consecutive year that the Cajuns beat the Nuggets.
     Kelly Drew and Alexandra Way won in doubles and singles for the Cajuns, who opened their spring season earlier in the day with a 4-1 home victory against Southern University.
     Elena Sava's 6-2, 6-2 victory against Caroline Vernet ended the dual. Still on the court was Abbes, the NAIA's top-ranked singles player, who was leading Nelo Phiri 6-3, 5-1.
     Way defeated Brion Flowers, playing in her hometown, 6-3, 6-1, and Drew defeated Carmen Nelson 6-3, 6-1.
     The Cajuns clinched the doubles point with victories at the second and third flights. Melissa Burckhartt and Drew beat Vernet and Flowers 6-2, and Way and Abby Johnson defeated Brandi Nelson and Sha'Nel Bruins 6-3.
     Vernet's losses were her first of the season. She had won twice in doubles and once in singles during the weekend and was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday.
     Next for Xavier's women and men will be William Carey at 11 a.m. Saturday at XU Tennis Center. XU's men are ranked eighth, and William Carey's men are ranked 22nd. William Carey's women received votes in the preseason poll.
     NOTE:  Coach Alan Green said Xavier's men's and women's duals Feb. 24 against Alcorn State have been moved to XU Tennis Center. Starting time was moved up one hour to 2 p.m.

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Women's Tennis Results
Louisiana-Lafayette 4, Xavier 0

Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Cajun Courts, Lafayette, La.
Xavier victories highlighted

Doubles
No. 1 — Nour Abbes-Carmen Nelson (XU) vs. Nelo Phiri-Elena Sava (ULL), did not finish . . . Phiri-Sava led 5-2.
No. 2 — Melissa Burckhartt-Kelly Drew (ULL) d. Caroline Vernet-Brion Flowers (XU) 6-2.
No. 3 — Alexandra Way-Abby Johnson (ULL) d. Brandi Nelson-Sha'Nel Bruins (XU) 6-3.

Singles
No. 1 — Nour Abbes (XU) vs. Nelo Phiri (ULL), did not finish . . . Abbes led 6-3, 5-1.
No. 2 — Elena Sava (ULL) d. Caroline Vernet (XU) 6-2, 6-2.
No. 3 — Kelly Drew (ULL) d. Carmen Nelson (XU) 6-3, 6-1.
No. 4 — Alexandra Way (ULL) d. Brion Flowers (XU) 6-1, 6-3.
No. 5 — Jana van der Walt (XU) vs. Abby Johnson (ULL), did not finish . . . Johnson led 6-1, 2-1.
No. 6 — Sha'Nel Bruins (XU) vs. Melissa Burckhartt (ULL), did not finish . . . Burckhartt led 6-3, 3-1.

Order of Finish: Doubles — 2, 3. Singles — 3, 4, 2.
Records: Xavier 3-3, Louisiana-Lafayette 2-0.

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