Sophomore Kyle Montrel won in doubles and singles for the Gold Rush. He and Nikita Soifer defeated Kiernan Cronin and Evan Karatzas 8-6 at No. 1 doubles, then Montrel beat Partha Adovelly 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.
Montrel, an NAIA All-American in doubles last season, has won 10 of his last 11 singles matches and 10 of his last 11 doubles matches. Soifer, XU's other returning All-American, has won 20 of his last 22 in doubles.
Xavier's other victory came at No. 6 singles, where newcomer Vincenzo Ciccone trailed 5-0 in the first set but defeated Kiernan Cronin 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
"I was encouraged by what I saw," 11th-year XU coach Alan Green said. "Everybody got to play, and all the guys fought hard. I liked the fight in our team. Nicholls State is tons better than the team we faced two years ago, but I think we're better, too."
Nico Mertens, Lukas Clemens and Bernard Wezeman won in doubles and singles for Nicholls State (1-1). Mertens and Adovelly rallied from a 5-4 deficit to beat Tushar Mandlekar and Jordan Harrell 8-5 at No. 3 doubles.
It was the first of seven Gold Rush matches this season against NCAA Division I opponents. Xavier was 4-2 against NCAA D-Is last year.
Both Xavier teams will play city rival Loyola at 2 p.m. next Friday at the XU Tennis Center. It will be the first dual of the semester for the Gold Nuggets, who are ranked third in the NAIA.
Results
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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