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        NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, led by returning All-Americans Lailaa Bashir and Farah Baklouti and newcomer Kyra Akinnibi, advanced three in singles and two doubles teams Friday in the women's bracket of the ITA NAIA Gulf Regional Championships at XULA Tennis Center.
        Bashir, a sophomore and seeded second in singles, won 6-2, 6-0 against Sabrina Goetzen of William Carey to reach the quarterfinals. Akinnibi won two matches, including the final seven points in a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5) upset of William Carey's fourth-seeded Valeriya Shubrina in the round of 16.
        Baklouti — a senior in the spring of 2020 but granted two additional terms of attendance by the NAIA because of the season-shortening COVID-19 pandemic — won 6-0, 6-3 against William Carey's Xiana Garcia.
        Top-seeded Bashir and Angela Charles-Alfred, who last season won XULA's first ITA Cup small-college national title, defeated William Carey's Nadine Geschke and Garcia 8-3 to reach the semifinals. Third-seeded Akinnibi and Baklouti advanced with an 8-3 victory against William Carey's Mariana Prieto and Nastassia Chamoun.
        "It was a good day overall for our women," said Alan Green, XULA's head coach and director of tennis. "One of our newcomers, Kyra Akinnibi, stood out with her play and leadership. She really gets the rest of the team going. It's refreshing to see. Our veterans played rock solid, and we have a chance to compete tomorrow and continue to build the identity of this team."
        Top-seeded in singles is freshman Lucy Carpenter of city rival Loyola. Carpenter defeated Chamoun 6-3, 6-4 and will play William Carey's Meg Dolde in the quarterfinals.
        This is the first competition of the 2020-21 academic year for the XULA women. The three-day tournament will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday with singles quarterfinal matches. Also to be played will be the doubles semifinals and singles consolation matches.
        The ITA NAIA Gulf Regional men's bracket was played Sept. 18-20.