Xavier's five guys climb to No. 5 in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana coach Alan Green calls his men's tennis team's season nothing short of incredible.

The Gold Rush, despite playing shorthanded in every dual match this season, have four victories against NCAA Division I opponents, five against ranked NAIA opponents and two more against teams which weren't ranked when they played but are in the newest NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll, which was announced Tuesday. The XU men's success earned them a jump from eighth to fifth in the poll, and it's the program's highest ranking ever.

Xavier's down-a-man roster has resulted in automatic forfeits at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles to opponents at full strength. But the Rush have produced a winning record with the help of five 5-4 victories and three 4-3 victories.

"It's pretty amazing that the guys are in the top five despite the adversity we've faced," Green said.

"We're playing shorthanded, and we can't afford to have an off day by a single guy. It's amazing what we have done to this point."

The Gold Rush (12-7) won 2-of-3 duals since the previous poll, including a 5-4 victory at then-No. 6 William Carey and a 4-3 victory at D-I Jackson State. This is the 47th consecutive Gold Rush appearance in the top 25 and the 17th straight in the top 10.

Next for the Rush will be an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament at Jonesboro, Ga.

Xavier has a bye in the quarterfinals and will meet SCAD Atlanta or Reinhardt in the semifinals Friday. The tournament winner will receive an automatic bid to next month's NAIA National Championship.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 14) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (5) 18-2 334 2 2 Auburn Montgomery (4) 16-3 333 1 3 Vanguard (4) 21-0 329 3 4 Westmont 11-10 303 5 5 Xavier 12-7 295 8 6 Bethany (Kan.) 15-1 286 7 7 William Carey 8-4 278 6 8 Bethel (Tenn.) 17-2 269 11 9 Lindsey Wilson 13-3 262 4 10 Cumberland 15-3 245 9 11 Concordia (Calif.) 11-11 234 10 12 Lewis-Clark State 6-5 214 12 13 Aquinas 16-4 208 13 14 Belhaven 12-3 204 14 15 Northwood (Fla.) 9-4 191 15 16 Oklahoma Baptist 13-7 167 17 17 Northwestern Ohio 10-5 156 18 18 McPherson 18-6 152 19 19 Warner 10-7 143 22 20 Pikeville 9-4 133 RV 21 Webber International 10-11 119 20 22 Campbellsville 9-8 115 16 23 Graceland 11-5 105 23 24 Davenport 13-6 101 24 25 Indiana Wesleyan 15-5 62 RV Others receiving votes: Martin Methodist 50, St. Francis (Ill.) 47, St. Thomas (Fla.) 42, Coastal Georgia 35, Spring Arbor 22, Olivet Nazarene 19, Asbury 8, Hope International 7, Cumberlands 4, Mobile 3.

Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA