THIBODAUX, La. — Sam Meessen defeated Vincenzo Ciccone 6-3, 6-0 Tuesday to clinch Nicholls State's 4-3 men's tennis victory against Xavier University of Louisiana.
    Nicholls State's women defeated Xavier 4-0.
    Nicholls' men (3-7) rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits.
    The Gold Rush (8-3) won the doubles point. Kevin Chaouat and Adam Albrecht defeated Evan Karatzas and Meessen 8-5, and Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer beat Partha Adavelly and Lukas Clemens 8-5. Montrel is 11-0 this semester in doubles, 7-0 with Soifer.
    In singles, Montrel beat Adavelly 7-5, 6-1, and Karatzas retired because of injury while trailing Soifer 6-2, 5-7, 3-0.
    In the women's dual, Xavier's Nour Abbes and Carmen Nelson defeated Marie Aubert and Milou Pietersz 8-6, but the Colonels (8-2) won the doubles point when Kateryna Nakonechna and Isla Brock beat Caroline Vernet and Simone-Alyse Ewell 9-8 (7-2). Ewell lost for the first time in 21 doubles decisions dating to February 2014.
    Nakonechna clinched the dual when she defeated Brandi Nelson 6-4, 6-2.
    Both XU teams maintained their positions in the NAIA coaches polls announced early Tuesday evening. The Gold Rush are sixth, and the Gold Nuggets are seventh. The next polls will be released March 31.
    Both XU teams will travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., to play NAIA-ranked William Carey at 3 p.m. Thursday.

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Men's Tennis Results
Nicholls State 4, Xavier 3

Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Colonel Tennis Complex, Thibodaux, La.
Xavier victories highlighted

Doubles
No. 1 — Kyle Montrel-Nikita Soifer (XU) d. Partha Adavelly-Lukas Clemens (NSU) 8-5.
No. 2 — Tushar Mandlekar-Manav Chakma (XU) vs. Kieran Cronin-Bernard Wezeman (NSU), did not finish . . . 7-7.
No. 3 — Kevin Chaouat-Adam Albrecht (XU) d. Evan Karatzas-Sam Meessen (NSU) 8-5.

Singles
No. 1 — Kyle Montrel (XU) d. Partha Adavelly (NSU) 7-5, 6-1.
No. 2 — Nikita Soifer (XU) d. Evan Karatzas (NSU) 6-2, 5-7, 3-0, retired, injury.
No. 3 — Lukas Clemens (NSU) d. Jordan Harrell (XU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-3.
No. 4 — Bernard Wezeman (NSU) d. Tushar Mandlekar (XU) 6-3, 7-5.
No. 5 — Sam Meessen (NSU) d. Vincenzo Ciccone (XU) 6-3, 6-0.
No. 6 — Max Sinn (NSU) d. Kevin Chaouat (XU) 6-1, 6-3.

Order of Finish: Doubles — 3, 1. Singles — 1, 4, 3, 2, 6, 5. 
Records: Xavier 8-3, Nicholls State 3-7.

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Women's Tennis Results
Nicholls State 4, Xavier 0

Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Colonel Tennis Complex, Thibodaux, La.
Xavier victories highlighted

Doubles
No. 1 — Kateryna Nakonechna-Isla Brock (NSU) d. Caroline Vernet - Simone-Alyse Ewell (XU) 9-8 (7-2).
No. 2 — Nour Abbes-Carmen Nelson (XU) d. Marie Aubert-Milou Pietersz (NSU) 8-6.
No. 3 — Laia Charles-Emma Kranendonk (NSU) d. Brandi Nelson-Brion Flowers (XU) 8-6.

Singles
No. 1 — Stephanie Barnett (NSU) d. Caroline Vernet (XU) 7-6 (7-0), retired, illness.
No. 2 — Milou Pietersz (NSU) d. Carmen Nelson (XU) 6-2, 6-0.
No. 3 — Brion Flowers (XU) vs. Katia Jordan (NSU), did not finish . . . Jordan won first set 6-4, Flowers won second set 6-4.
No. 4 — Kateryna Nakonechna (NSU) d. Brandi Nelson (XU) 6-4, 6-2.
No. 5 — Simone-Alyse Ewell (XU) vs. Emma Kranendonk (NSU), did not finish . . . 1-1.
No. 6 — Sha'Nel Bruins (XU) vs. Laia Charles (NSU), did not finish . . . Charles led 2-0.

Order of Finish: Doubles — 2, 3, 1. Singles — 2, 1, 4. 
Records: Xavier 10-7, Nicholls State 8-2.

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The NAIA women's top 25	The NAIA men's top 25
1. Georgia Gwinnett	1. Georgia Gwinnett
2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)	2. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
3. Auburn Montgomery	3. Auburn Montgomery
4. Lindsey Wilson	4. Vanguard
5. Brenau	5. Lindsey Wilson
6. SCAD Savannah	6. Xavier
7. Xavier	7. Bethany (Kan.)
8. Northwood (Fla.)	8. Westmont
9. Arizona Christian	9. Concordia (Calif.)
10. Oklahoma Baptist	10. Northwestern Ohio
11. Westmont	11. Belhaven
12. Concordia (Calif.)	12. Northwood (Fla.)
13. Graceland	13. (tie) Graceland
14. Indiana Wesleyan	13. (tie) Coastal Georgia
15. Vanguard	15. San Diego Christian
16. Cardinal Stritch	16. Dalton State
17. Coastal Georgia	17. SCAD Atlanta
18. Davenport	18. Oklahoma Baptist
19. Lewis-Clark State	19. Lewis-Clark State
20. William Carey	20. Campbellsville
21. Cumberland	21. William Carey
22. Olivet Nazarene	22. SCAD Savannah
23. Southeastern (Fla.)	23. Indiana Wesleyan
24. Northwestern Ohio	24. Olivet Nazarene
25. Evangel	25. Aquinas

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