NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Julius Hell was announced Tuesday as Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Week in men's tennis for Feb. 20-26. It's the first award for Hell, a freshman from Pforzheim, Germany, and in his first semester at XULA.
        Hell was 4-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles to help the Gold Rush win 3-of-4 matches, including all three at the LSUA Tournament in Alexandria, La. Saturday in XULA's 4-1 victory against Texas Wesleyan, Hell and Jacobi Bain clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory against Mathieu Vinet and Pablo Olmedo. Then Hell beat Olmedo 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 on the second singles court to end the competition.
        Hell was the only XULA player to win in doubles and singles in a 4-3 loss at NAIA No. 7 William Carey.
        It's the fourth straight week that the Gold Rush won the RRAC award. Mathieu Strauss was honored for Jan. 30-Feb. 5, Bain won for Feb. 6-12, and Nereo Suarez won for Feb. 13-19.
        Next for XULA, 8-3 and ranked fifth in the NAIA, will be matches in Macon, Ga.: 1 p.m. Friday against NAIA No. 6 Middle Georgia and noon Saturday against Campbellsville. Times are Eastern Standard.