Tuesday, April 23, 2013

XU's Howell, Didavi, Rolland win GCAC's weekly awards again


Kourtney Howell

Kourtney Howell



Loic Didavi

Loic Didavi
Devinn Rolland

Devinn Rolland
ORLEANS — This is a familiar routine for Xavier University of Louisiana's Kourtney Howell, Loic Didavi and Devinn Rolland. All three are repeat winners of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Athlete/Performer of the Week awards, this time for April 15-21.

Howell received her third award of the season in women's tennis and the seventh of her career, which extends her GCAC record. Didavi's men's tennis award is his second of the season and third of his career. Rolland earned her sixth award in women's field this season; she also won three track awards in 2013.

Howell, a junior from Cypress, Texas, and a graduate of Cypress Woods High School, was 2-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles to help the Gold Nuggets successfully defend their NAIA unaffiliated group tournament title at Jonesboro, Ga.

Howell, ranked sixth among the ITA's NAIA singles players, clinched the championship dual Sunday against 19th-ranked SCAD Atlanta with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory against 43rd-ranked Alina Tseplukhova.  Howell and freshman Brion Flowers climbed from 12th to first in the ITA NAIA doubles rankings this past week and increased their doubles win streak to nine.

Didavi, a senior from Cotonou, Benin, and a graduate of Lycée Jean Dautet, La Rochelle, was 2-0 in singles and 2-0 in doubles to help the Gold Rush win a third consecutive NAIA unaffiliated group tournament. Didavi is ranked fourth in the NAIA in singles and 15th in doubles with Kyle Montrel, a GCAC winner the previous two weeks.

Rolland, a sophomore from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School in New Orleans, ran 200 meters in 24.66 seconds — her second fastest time of the season — to place sixth out of 22 runners Saturday in the LSU Alumni Gold meet at Baton Rouge, La. She finished ahead of 15 runners from NCAA Division I. It was the fourth time this season that Rolland met the A-standard for the NAIA National Championships in this event.

By Ed Cassiere, SID
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

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