Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Gold Rush hang on to program's highest-ever rank, No. 5

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana is fifth for the second consecutive time in NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. It's the highest rank in the program's history.
    
The Gold Rush (14-7) are in the top 10 for the 18th consecutive poll, in the top 15 for the 24th consecutive time and in the top 25 for the 48th consecutive time. The XU men clinched their fifth consecutive automatic berth in the NAIA National Championship with a 6-2 victory against Milligan in the final of an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament at Jonesboro, Ga., on April 21. The national tournament will begin May 14 at Mobile, Ala.
    
The top six teams are the same as in the previous poll, which was announced April 16. Embry-Riddle (Fla.) is No. 1 for the second consecutive poll and extended its lead over No. 2 Auburn Montgomery from one to 11 points. The Eagles collected 9-of-12 first-place votes after receiving 5-of-13 two weeks ago. AUM received one first-place vote, and unbeaten and No. 3 Vanguard received two.
    
The final poll before the national tournament will be announced Monday.

  
NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 28)

Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (9) 20-2 310 1
2 Auburn Montgomery (1) 18-3 299 2
3 Vanguard (2) 22-0 297 3
4 Westmont 11-10 278 4
5 Xavier 14-7 272 5
6 Bethany (Kan.) 19-1 266 6
7 Bethel (Tenn.) 20-1 251 8
8 Lindsey Wilson 16-3 244 9
9 Cumberland 17-4 232 10
10 Concordia (Calif.) 11-12 221 11
11 Belhaven 15-4 208 14
12 Aquinas 23-4 202 13
13 Oklahoma Baptist 15-10 184 16
14 William Carey 8-5 183 7
15 Northwood (Fla.) 12-5 173 15
16 Lewis-Clark State 7-7 162 12
17 McPherson 22-6 151 18
18 Northwestern Ohio 13-7 144 17
19 Warner 12-9 121 19
20 Pikeville 10-5 120 20
21 Graceland 14-6 114 23
22 Campbellsville 10-9 106 22
23 Olivet Nazarene 10-10 98 RV
24 Davenport 18-7 77 24
25 Webber International 10-12 70 21

Others receiving votes: Indiana Wesleyan 69, Martin Methodist 56, Coastal Georgia 35, St. Francis (Ill.) 17, Grace 11, Asbury 9, St. Thomas (Fla.) 9, Mobile 8, Hope International 5, Spring Arbor 3, Our Lady of the Lake 3.


Ed Cassiere, SID
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS

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