Results
THIBODAUX, La. — Was it a Valentine's Day breakthrough
for Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis?
Maybe, coach
Alan Green said after his Gold Rush, a longtime NAIA power, won 6-1 Sunday at
Nicholls State of NCAA Division I. "It's still early," Green said, "but I feel like we've got a pretty
good team. We can do some really good things. But we still have a long way to go."
For the Gold Rush (3-2), ranked fourth, it was the first victory in
nine dual matches against the Colonels (1-2). There had been three close calls in recent
seasons, including 4-3 a year ago, but this time Xavier left no doubt.
The Rush won the doubles point and four singles matches on the court.
It was the 30th victory in Green's 13 seasons against a
Division I men's opponent but the third against a non-HBCU from that level.
Nicholls State made Xavier's path easier because the Colonels
had five available players. That resulted in default victories for the Rush at No. 6
singles and No. 3 doubles, and Xavier needed just one on-court victory to claim the doubles point.
The Rush got that when
Karan Salwan and
Kyle Montrel beat
Max Sinn and Evan Karatzas 6-3.
Xavier maintained its momentum during singles.
Salwan defeated Kieran Cronin 6-4, 6-3, then freshman
Thomas Setodji, in
his first day of collegiate competition, clinched the dual with a 6-2, 6-2 decision
against Sam Meessen.
Adam Albrecht extended Xavier's lead to 5-0 when
he toppled Oscar Reeve 6-2, 6-3.
Karatzas beat Montrel 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 (10-3) at the
top singles flight, but the Gold Rush ended the dual with another victory —
Tushar Mandlekar defeated Sinn 2-6, 7-5, 1-0 (10-6).
"Nicholls played us tough," Green said. "They didn't
play like they were down a guy. But our guys withstood their challenge and took care
of business."
Setodji, winner of three state singles championships as a French junior,
found his groove after he and
Kevin Chaouat dropped their first four doubles
games. They won four of the next five games before falling 6-4 to Reeve and Cronin,
then Setodji cruised in singles, dropping fewer games than any of his teammates.
"I was tense in doubles," Setodji said. "The conditions were
difficult, and those guys (Nicholls) played well. But things got better in singles.
Everything in singles was great from start to finish."
Next for Xavier's men and women will be
the Green and Gray Invitational at Lawrenceville, Ga. They'll play SCAD Savannah
Friday, Georgia Gwinnett Saturday and Cumberland Sunday. All six of those opponents
were in the NAIA's preseason top 25s. New rankings will be announced Tuesday.
Georgia Gwinnett's men are a two-time defending national champion.
