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| Corey Huggins |
NEW ORLEANS — Two victories against top-10 teams helped Xavier University of Louisiana climb one place to No. 8 Tuesday in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
The ranking matches the highest in the program history of the Gold Rush (14-7). The XU men initially reached No. 8 on March 8, 2011. They were eighth in three additional polls last year, including the final ranking. This year the Gold Rush were ninth in the preseason poll and remained there for four additional polls until this week.
During spring break the Gold Rush won 5-4 at then-No. 7 Point Loma Nazarene on April 2 and 6-3 at then No. 8 Westmont the following day. Xavier is 8-4 this season against ranked teams, with three victories against the top 10.
The XU men extended their streaks of consecutive appearances in the top 25 (38 polls), top 20 (29), top 15 (14) and top 10 (8). The top-25 streak began April 4, 2007. The Gold Rush appeared in the top 10 in 11 of last 12 polls.
Xavier's women are just outside the top 25 for the second consecutive poll. The Gold Nuggets (4-21) are 26th, 12 points behind No. 25 Davenport. Xavier was 24th in the March 20 ranking.
Both XU teams have concluded their regular-season schedules. Next for the Gold Rush and the Gold Nuggets will be an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament April 27-28 at Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, Ga. Based on this week's rankings, No. 16 Cumberland and No. 19 Martin Methodist will be the strongest opponents of the Rush at that tournament. The Nuggets' strongest competition will come from No. 17 Martin Methodist and No. 33 Milligan. The men's and women's champions will receive automatic bids to the NAIA National Championship May 15-19 at Mobile, Alabama.
NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 15)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Fresno Pacific (12) 19-1 312 1
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 15-2 302 2
3 Oklahoma Christian 14-3 291 3
4 Azusa Pacific 17-2 283 4
5 Auburn Montgomery 13-7 271 5
6 Point Loma Nazarene 12-7 261 6
7 Concordia (Calif.) 8-9 248 10
8 Xavier 14-7 242 9
9 Vanguard 10-9 235 7
10 Westmont 8-8 219 8
11 William Carey 14-3 213 11
12 Lindsey Wilson 16-5 205 12
13 Aquinas 19-1 190 13
14 Bethany (Kan.) 13-3 184 14
15 Belhaven 14-2 172 15
16 Cumberland 12-1 160 16
17 Warner 11-3 152 17
18 Campbellsville 12-4 131 19
19 Martin Methodist 7-4 129 20
20 Lee (Tenn.) 8-7 113 18
21 Our Lady of the Lake 6-6 109 21
22 Northwestern Ohio 16-4 105 23
23 Webber International 14-6 104 22
24 Lewis-Clark State 8-7 74 24
25-tie Shorter 11-14 60 25
25-tie Olivet Nazarene 11-3 60 RV
Others receiving votes: McPherson 55, Spring Arbor 42, Pikeville 36, Northwood (Fla.) 17, Biola 15, Roberts Wesleyan 10, Taylor 1, Asbury 1, SCAD Savannah 1, Davenport 1.
NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 15)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Auburn Montgomery (13) 19-2 343 1
2 Fresno Pacific 18-4 332 2
3 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 18-3 321 3
4 Oklahoma Christian 14-3 310 4
5 Azusa Pacific 15-3 299 5
6 Point Loma Nazarene 13-6 286 6
7 Brenau 11-4 279 7
8 Concordia (Calif.) 10-6 266 8
9 William Carey 13-8 255 9
10 Southern Nazarene 7-4 243 10
11 Shorter 19-7 228 13
12 Lindsey Wilson 13-3 227 12
13 SCAD Savannah 9-3 210 11
14 Lewis-Clark State 7-12 199 14
15 Vanguard 8-10 190 15
16 Indiana Wesleyan 19-2 180 16
17 Martin Methodist 8-3 165 18
18 Lee (Tenn.) 9-6 148 17
19 Campbellsville 11-5 144 19
20 Westmont 6-9 127 21
21 Robert Morris (Chicago) 14-2 126 22
22 St. Thomas (Fla.) 5-4 123 20
23 Oklahoma Baptist 6-8 93 23
24 Marian (Ind.) 21-6 91 24
25 Davenport 18-5 73 25
Others receiving votes: Xavier 61, Webber International 40, Belhaven 33, Indiana Southeast 32, Bethel (Kan.) 30, Northwestern Ohio 13, Olivet Nazarene 8, Milligan 6, Nebraska Wesleyan 5, Taylor 3, Georgetown (Ky.) 1, \ Northwood (Fla.) 1.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Informatin Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
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