Results:
Men
•
Women
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Xavier University of Louisiana
produced more road victories against ranked NAIA tennis teams when
the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets both won 5-4 Friday against William Carey.
For the XULA women (5-7), it's their fourth road
victory in the last 19 days against a ranked opponent — their second
against a top-10 team. William Carey (4-1) is No. 6, and the Gold Nuggets are No. 10.
The XULA men (6-6), ranked second, reached
.500 for the first time this season by beating the 12th-ranked Crusaders (4-2).
It was the Gold Rush's fifth consecutive dual-match victory and
second in a row on the road against a ranked team.
Catalin Fifea, a senior and an NAIA All-American
last season, clinched for the Gold Rush on the first singles court with
his 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory against Vladyslav Ladygin.
Freshman
Angela Charles-Alfred clinched for the Gold Nuggets
at No. 3 with her 6-3, 6-0 victory against Maria Andreeva.
The Nuggets dominated at the top two singles positions, with
Mariia Borodii
defeating Alena Saettler 6-1, 6-0 and
Charlene Goreau beating
Nataliia Baliaeva 6-0, 6-1.
The Gold Rush trailed 2-1 after doubles,
then got singles victories from
Shaikh Abdullah,
Chris Anders and
Pierre Andrieu to take a 4-3 lead.
The XULA men have 16 consecutive dual-match victories against ranked NAIA
teams not named Georgia Gwinnett. That streak began in 2016.
The Gold Nuggets will travel to Phoenix, Ariz., to play five times
in four days, beginning with a 4 p.m. MST Thursday dual
against NAIA No. 13 Arizona Christian, a first-time opponent.
The Gold Rush will have more than two weeks off before
playing 25th-ranked SCAD Atlanta March 18 at XULA Tennis Center.