PENSACOLA, Fla. - The Xavier men's tennis team gave itself perhaps the best possible tune-up for the season here Sunday, battling perennial NCAA Division 2 power West Florida in the season opener for both teams. 

Xavier (0-1) took a 7-0 loss to the No. 4 Argonauts (1-0), owners of numerous Gulf South Conference titles and a pair of national championships in the 2010s, but there were several moments of which XULA could be proud. 

The No. 3 pairing of VanDer Woody and Christian Sanchez defeated UWF's Goncalo Quintelo and Vincente Couto 6-3. However, owing to how doubles matches are scored in tennis, with the team that wins 2-of-3 being awarded the doubles point, that result did not factor into the final score. 

In singles, No. 3 Gabriel Velez had the best showing, falling 4-6, 4-6 to Rafael Sabio, who finished the fall season ranked as the No. 19 individual in NCAA Division II. 

Nereo Suarez, Xavier's No. 1, gave UWF star Sebastian Rondon, one half of the No. 1 doubles team in Division II, a spirited effort, falling 5-7, 3-6. 

The Gold Rush return home for their next match, a noon showdown with crosstown rival Loyola-New Orleans on Tuesday.