Results

        HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Xavier University of Louisiana lost 4-1 to William Carey in a matchup of ranked NAIA women's tennis teams Monday.
        It was the Gold Nuggets' seventh loss this season to a ranked opponent — the Lady Crusaders are No. 7 — but XULA head coach Alan Green was encouraged.
        "The Nuggets fought hard in this one but came up short," Green said. "We gave Carey a good battle. I hope we can gain some confidence from this one."
        XULA defeated William Carey last season for the tournament championship in the Southern States Athletic Conference, but virtually all of the Gold Nuggets' stars from that team are gone. One who returned — Louisiana Freshman of the Year Valentina Largacha — scored XULA's only point.
        Largacha led Carey's Sabrina Goetzen in a pair of unfinished singles matches in dual competition last season, but Monday Largacha gained closure with a 6-3, 6-3 victory against Goetzen at No. 4.
        At No. 1 singles, XULA freshman Juliette Finch was serving for the match when Carey clinched. Finch led 40-15 in the 10th game of the third set after building a 7-5, 4-6, 5-4 lead against Valeriya Shurbina, who was first-team All-SSAC each of the past two seasons.
        XULA is 4-8 — the Gold Nuggets are ranked 11th nationally — and William Carey is 2-0.
        Next for XULA's women and men will be their second trip in three weeks to Lawrenceville, Ga. The Nuggets and Gold Rush will compete in the GGC Spring Invitational Thursday through Sunday.