 Loic Didavi |  Nikita Soifer |  Kyle Montrel |
NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's tennis program set several precedents Monday with the announcement of the 2013 NAIA All-America team. Loic Didavi is the first Gold Rush player to be make the first team twice. Nikita Soifer, who's on the second team, is the first Gold Rush sophomore to earn second team or higher. Kyle Montrel, an honorable-mention All-American, is the program's first freshman to be cited.
Those three helped Xavier finish 15-8, repeat as champion of an NAIA unaffiliated group qualifying tournament and reach the quarterfinals of NAIA National Championship for the second consecutive year. The Gold Rush were ranked sixth in the NAIA entering the national tournament and reached a program-record fifth in two April polls.
Didavi, a senior from Cotonou, Benin, and a graduate of Lycée Jean Dautet, La Rochelle, was 16-6 in singles and 18-5 in doubles this season and was chosen ITA NAIA National Senior Player of the Year. Didavi is All-America for the fourth straight year — he was second team in 2011 and 2010 at Auburn Montgomery.
Didavi, from Beer Sheva, Israel, and a graduate of Hof Hasharon School, was 17-11 in singles and 21-6 in doubles. He led the Gold Rush in doubles victories. Soifer and Viktor Svoboda won 15 of their final 16 doubles matches this season, nine against ranked NAIA schools.
Montrel, from Atlanta, Ga., and a graduate of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy, was 16-4 in singles and 18-4 in doubles. He led the Gold Rush in singles and doubles winning percentage and, with Didavi as his partner, won his first eight doubles matches. In March he became the first XU freshman to reach the top 30 in the ITA NAIA singles rankings.
The ITA will announce its NAIA All-Americans after compiling its final singles and doubles rankings.
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
XULAATHLETICS
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