Gold Rush Tennis still ninth in NAIA poll; Nuggets gain support

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana maintained its No. 9 ranking in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll released Tuesday.

The Gold Rush are in the top 10 for the fourth consecutive poll dating to May 2011 and the seventh time in the past eight polls. Beginning with the poll of April 4, 2007, Xavier has been in every men's top 25.

Xavier still is tied for 36th place in the women's rankings, but the Gold Nuggets' point total increased from one to three.

The polls are the second of nine this season. Fresno Pacific's men and Auburn Montgomery's women held on to their No. 1 rankings. The next polls will be announced March 6.

The Gold Nuggets will travel to NCAA Division I Southeastern Louisiana for a 6 p.m. Friday dual match, then both Xavier teams will play William Carey in dual matches starting at 10 a.m. Saturday at City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center. William Carey's men are ranked 13th, and the women are 12th.

The XU men already have a victory this season against a ranked opponent — 7-2 on Feb. 11 against Bethany (Kan.), which climbed from 16th to 15th in the poll — and are scheduled for at least eight more regular-season matches against this week's top 25.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)

Rank Team Record Points Last

1 Fresno Pacific (11) 5-0 281 1

2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 4-1 272 2
3 Oklahoma Christian 4-0 261 3

4 Azusa Pacific 2-0 255 tie-4

5 Auburn Montgomery 1-2 243 tie-4

6 Westmont 1-2 239 6

7 Point Loma Nazarene 0-2 227 7

8 Vanguard 2-3 217 8

9 Xavier 3-1 210 9

10 Shorter 2-2 196 10

11 Concordia (Calif.) 2-1 194 11

12 Lindsey Wilson 2-3 181 13

13 William Carey 0-1 176 12

14 Aquinas 2-1 161 14

15 Bethany (Kan.) 2-2 154 16

16 St. Thomas (Fla.) 0-3 149 15

17 Lee (Tenn.) 2-1 128 17

18 Warner 1-1 124 RV

19 Lewis-Clark State 4-1 122 19

20 Webber International 4-1 103 18
21 Tennessee Wesleyan 0-0 94 21
22 Olivet Nazarene 2-0 91 NR
23 Campbellsville 0-0 82 23
24 Belhaven 2-0 65 22
25 Martin Methodist 0-0 60 24

Others receiving votes: Spring Arbor 59, SCAD Savannah 51, Missouri Valley 29, Northwestern Ohio 24, Oklahoma Baptist 18, Biola 18, Cumberland 12, Northwood (Fla.) 7, McPherson 4, Pikeville 3, Brescia 1.


NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, Feb. 19)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Auburn Montgomery (11) 4-0 312 1
2 Fresno Pacific (1) 5-0 302 2
3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 5-1 292 3

4 Oklahoma Christian 1-0 282 4

5 Concordia (Calif.) 3-0 272 5

6 Brenau 2-0 260 6

7 Azusa Pacific 3-0 254 7

8 SCAD Savannah 2-2 238 8

9 Point Loma Nazarene 1-1 235 11

10 Southern Nazarene 0-0 219 10

11 Vanguard 1-2 215 9
12 William Carey 0-3 204 12
13 Lee (Tenn.) 3-0 191 13

14 Lindsey Wilson 1-2 179 14

15 Shorter 4-1 175 15
16 Lewis-Clark State 1-7 160 16

17 Indiana Wesleyan 14-0 152 17

18 SCAD Atlanta 0-0 145 18

19 Martin Methodist 0-0 131 20
20 St. Thomas (Fla.) 0-2 120 21
21 Belhaven 2-0 104 23
22 Campbellsville 0-0 101 22

23 Webber International 2-1 95 24

24 Marian (Ind.) 12-3 73 25

25 Davenport 8-2 57 RV

Others receiving votes: Olivet Nazarene 49, Indiana Southeast 46, Westmont 29, Northwood (Fla.) 23, Northwestern Ohio 15, Missouri Valley 15, Taylor 14, Milligan 9, Robert Morris (Chicago) 7, Bethel (Kan.) 7, Cumberlands 3, Xavier 3, Nebraska Wesleyan 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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