Results

     MOBILE, Ala. — Brandi Nelson won in doubles and singles for Xavier University of Louisiana, but the Gold Nuggets lost 5-2 Wednesday to Northwestern Ohio in the opening round of the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship.
     Xavier (8-14), ranked 17th in the most recent coaches poll and seeded 18th in the tournament, lost to the Racers (14-9), ranked and seeded 15th, for the second time in as many meetings this season. UNOH won 5-4 March 29 at Xavier.
     The dual began late Tuesday morning and was suspended after 15 minutes due to rain. After two rain delays Wednesday, the Nuggets and Racers finally resumed and competed in warm, humid and partly sunny conditions.
     Nelson and Brion Flowers gave the Gold Nuggets their only lead of the dual, 1-0, when they defeated Kate Bondarenko and Valeria Popko 8-4 on the first doubles court. At No. 3 singles, Nelson defeated Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4 to give Nelson two victories in a dual for the ninth time this season.
     After Nelson and Flowers scored first in doubles, Melena Lopez and Ana Lacerda won the final seven games for UNOH in an 8-2 decision against Sha'Nel Bruins and Dasia Harris. At No. 3, Raquel Marques and Xiomara Aguilar won 9-7 against Jana van der Walt and Charlene Goreau. Xavier led 2-1 on that court, then rallied from a 6-3 deficit to tie the match at 7.
     In singles, UNOH extended its lead when Marques beat Flowers 6-0, 6-1 at No. 4 and Popko defeated van der Walt 6-3, 6-2 at No. 2. Nelson cut the Racers' lead to 4-2, but Aguilar clinched by rallying for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory against Tess Guarino at No. 6.
     Still on the court when the dual ended were Goreau at No. 1 and Bruins at No. 5. Both trailed 2-1 in third sets. Both won in straight sets against UNOH in March.
     It was the final Xavier competition for Flowers and van der Walt, both seniors. A third senior, Vashni Balleste, did not play.
     "It was a tough season that came to a tough end," said coach Alan Green, whose Nuggets lost their final five duals and seven of their last eight, "but the future looks bright for the Gold Nuggets to climb in the national rankings again."
     Of Xavier's 14 losses, 13 occurred against NCAA Division I or ranked NAIA opponents.