Video   (XULA performance begins at 48:35)
Photos

        NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana competitive cheer worked through a lineup change and a new scoring guideline to deliver an 89.2-83.25 victory against Mobile in a virtual dual meet Thursday.
        XULA, a second-year varsity program, scored its most points ever. Its previous high was 85.6 points in a 2nd-of-6 finish at the Saints Showdown at Grand Rapids, Mich., on Feb. 2, 2020.
        It was the first of three meets in four days for the Gold (2-0), which will compete next on Saturday morning at Mobile, Ala., in the NAIA Unaffiliated Group Championship. The winner of that event will earn an automatic bid to NAIA nationals March 12-13 at Davenport, Iowa.
        "This performance," head coach Glenn Caston said, "makes me look forward to Saturday and the opportunity to perform in front of other athletes and represent this institution and what it stands for."
        It was XULA's first-ever home competition.
        Caston gave kudos to several in his 18-member lineup, including Chakayla Coulter, who earned her coach's respect for her calmness under pressure after replacing a teammate who was injured in practice Wednesday evening.
        "Chakayla stepped in at the secondary base at the last minute," Caston said, "and way more exceeded my expectations."
        Caston also praised:
        •  Kameron Bragulla:  "This is his first year of cheer anywhere. We've coached him up. He got his elite tumbling skills and has added to our scores. You can't tell this is his first year."
        •  Ja'Mya Rucker:  "Ja'Mya has overcome so much. She was injured and did not compete for us last season. She's recovered from two surgeries. She was on target tonight as a mid-level flyer for the pyramid."
        •  Asha Abiade:  "Asha is part of the stunt group. She stepped up and really hit her skills. She talked the folks in her group through the routine."
        XULA expanded its pyramid structures from two to three after a recent NAIA rules clarification. "The NAIA's intent is to increase the difficulty of the pyramids and challenge teams to earn their scores," Caston said. "So we adjusted the routine. We added a rewind released inversion and a transitional element."
        The unaffiliated group cheer competition will consist of four schools: XULA, Mobile, Point and Warner. They are the survivors of a 14-team, four-conference group in which at least six schools withdrew from postseason consideration because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
        At a regional qualifying meet for NAIA nationals a year ago, XULA placed sixth out of eight teams. Mobile was second, Point fourth and Warner eighth.
        Caston likes his team's chances Saturday. "Our team is consistently getting better each time it steps on the mat," he said.
        XULA's other competition of the weekend will be another virtual dual, this time with Point Park at noon Sunday.