PENSACOLA, Fla. — Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis concluded a three-match trip Sunday with a 7-2 victory against Texas A&M-Texarkana.
     Gabriel Niculescu, Samir Chikhaoui, Pierre Andrieu and Chris Anders won in doubles and singles for the Gold Rush (12-6), ranked seventh in the NAIA. Anders clinched with his 6-3, 6-4 victory against Gonzalo Vega on the sixth singles court.
     Niculescu defeated Gavin Beach 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, Chikhaoui beat Alberto Cabrillo 6-0, 6-4 at No. 4, and Andrieu defeated Kevin Tsati-onla 6-4, 6-2 at No. 5.
     XULA rebounded in doubles, winning all three matches after going 1-5 the previous two days. Chikhaoui and Andrieu, playing on the third court, got the first point with an 8-3 victory against Tsati-onla and Vega. Abdullah and Santiago Perez beat Cole Guy and Alejandro Oviedo 8-2 at No. 1, then Niculescu and Anders completed the sweep with an 8-4 victory against Beach and Cabrillo at No. 2.
     The XULA men snapped a two-match losing streak. They lost 5-4 Friday at No. 2 Reinhardt and 5-4 Saturday at No. 13 Point.
     XULA is 2-0 this season against the Eagles (4-5), a sixth-year program. TAMUT was among "others receiving votes" and in 27th place in the most recent NAIA coaches poll Tuesday. The next ranking will be announced April 9.
     XULA's men and women will play William Carey at noon Saturday at XULA Tennis Center. Gold Rush seniors will be honored before the matches. XULA's women are ranked third, William Carey's women are fifth, and its men are sixth.