ATLANTA — Xavier University of Louisiana's Santiago Perez continued his sensational spring semester, but Emory defeated the Gold Rush 6-3 in men's tennis Friday.
        It was a matchup of two of the best small-college programs in the United States. The Gold Rush are a three-time NAIA national runner-up, most recently in 2019, and the Eagles are a six-time NCAA Division III national champion, most recently in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
        Perez, a three-year NAIA All-American, won both his matches. Perez and Juan Ramirez defeated Andrew Esses and Sahil Raina 8-4 at No. 1 doubles, then Perez won 6-4, 6-3 against Antonio Mora at No. 1 singles
        Perez is 14-1 this season — he did not compete during the fall — and dating to last season has won 10 of his last doubles matches and 12 straight and 17 of his last 18 singles matches. This spring he is 9-0 in singles and 5-1 in doubles.
        Jacobi Bain and Megh Patel scored XULA's other victory, 8-4 at No. 2 doubles against Mora and Ryan Glanville. The dual was scored using Division III rules, so each of the nine matches was worth one point.
        XULA is 7-4, and Emory is 2-4.
        XULA will play NAIA No. 12 Middle Georgia at 2:30 p.m. EST Saturday in the GGC Spring Invitational at Lawrenceville, Ga.