Results

     NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Farah Baklouti won a pair of championships Sunday in the XULA Invitational at XULA Tennis Center.
     Baklouti and Mariia Borodii defeated teammates Yi Chen Pao and Charlene Goreau 7-5 for the women's doubles title, then Baklouti beat LSU-Alexandria's Patricia Perez 8-3 in the singles final.
     The Gold Nuggets won titles in all three brackets. Goreau defeated LSUA's Patricia Martinez 8-0 in the singles consolation final.
     There were two seeded players in the singles semifinals, but both were upset. Baklouti beat top-seeded Borodii 8-3, and Perez defeated LSUA's third-seeded Kirsty Venter 9-8 (7-5).
     Baklouti, a sophomore, enrolled at XULA in January, then steadily improved on the court to contribute to the Gold Nuggets' run to the NAIA national semifinals in May.
     "I gained confidence by winning matches," Baklouti said, "and I improved by practicing with my teammates. They encourage me a lot. I believe in myself and play my game."
     It was the second straight tournament that a Gold Nugget won two titles. Pao won singles and doubles championships in September at the HBCU National Championships.
     The event was the last of the fall schedule for the Gold Nuggets, who will resume their schedule in late January with dual matches. They'll attempt to reach the NAIA National Championships for an eighth consecutive year and an 11th time in 12 years.
     The men's brackets of the XULA Invitational will be played Nov. 3-4 with Loyola and William Carey competing with the Gold Rush. That will be the final XULA men's competition this fall.