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Results
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Tournament scores
MOBILE, Ala. — Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis avenged a three-month-old loss by defeating Middle Georgia 4-1 Thursday in the quarterfinals of NAIA nationals.
The Gold Nuggets (23-5), ranked third in the final coaches poll and seeded fourth in this tournament, will play seven-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett (16-0) in the semifinals at 1 p.m. CDT Friday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center (851 Gaillard Drive, zip code 36608, phone 251-208-5181). Admission is free.
XULA won the doubles point, something it didn't do in a 4-3 neutral-site loss to the Knights Feb. 17, then got singles victories for the second consecutive round from
Kyra Akinnibi,
McKenna Wheatley and
Kareemah Muhammad to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2021 and the sixth time overall. No XULA sport has reached as many semifinal rounds of bracketed NAIA national tournaments as women's tennis.
Valentina Largacha and
Amira Bergaoui clinched the doubles point on court two, winning the final five games in a 6-3 decision against Lena Golz and Lucille Gence. The Gold Nuggets'
Mbali Langa and
McKenna Wheatley won 6-1 on court one against Paula Rodriguez Velayos and Marina Prieto Gonfaus.
Akinnibi won 6-4, 6-0 on court four against Gence — it was Akinnibi's 15th consecutive singles victory — Wheatley defeated Rodriguez Velayos 6-3, 6-0 on court six, then Muhammad clinched on court two with her 6-0, 6-4 victory against Prieto Gonfaus.
One game from singles victories were Langa on court one and Bergaoui on court three.
Also notable:
• It was the Gold Nuggets' 12th consecutive victory — the third longest streak in program history. XULA won a record 16 straight in 2018.
• The Gold Nuggets broke their program record for season victories. XULA won 22 in 2023 and 2005.
• The Gold Nuggets broke their program record for season victories against ranked opponents — 14. The 2019 team held the previous mark.
• It was the Gold Nuggets' first victory at NAIA nationals against an opponent seeded fifth or higher. They were 0-13 in those matchups prior to Thursday.
• Middle Georgia (15-5) is 0-3 all-time in the quarterfinals. The Knights were ranked fifth and seeded fifth.
• The Gold Nuggets are 2-0 this week against Southern States Athletic Conference opponents at nationals after going 0-5 in their previous 16 appearances. XULA beat William Carey 4-1 Wednesday in the round of 16.
• The Gold Nuggets never have won in the NAIA semifinals. Georgia Gwinnett is 9-0 in the semifinals.
