The Gold Rush (2-5), ranked eighth in the NAIA, built a 2-0 lead before the Argonauts (6-0), ranked third in NCAA Division II, won 5-of-6 singles matches. But Xavier won as many matches as the Argonauts' first five opponents combined -- a list which includes three top-40 NCAA DII schools and NAIA No. 2 Auburn Montgomery.
"We gave a great effort today and played some really good doubles," XU coach Alan Green. "West Florida was just too much for us in singles."
Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer scored Xavier's first point of the dual and improved to 6-0 this season with their 8-4 victory against Bruno Savi and Carlos Moura at No. 1 doubles. Then newcomers Tushar Mandlekar and Kevin Chaouat, paired for the first time at Xavier, rallied from a 7-2 deficit -- and saved three match points -- in a 9-7 victory against Alex Peyrot and Domenico Sano at No. 2. Peyrot and Sano are NCAA D-II's 10th-ranked tandem.
Elio Latella and Felipe Frattini prevented an XU doubles sweep by defeating Viktor Svoboda and Adam Albrecht 9-7. It was the first collegiate doubles match for Albrecht, a freshman.
Montrel, Soifer and Vincenzo Ciccone lost to nationally ranked singles opponents. The only XU player to win a set was Svoboda, who defeated Douglas Boe 7-6 (7-4), 1-6, 1-0 (12-10) at No. 4. It was Svoboda's first singles victory in three attempts this season.
"Viktor played well," Green said. "He is beginning to find his rhythm on the court."
Savi, ranked first in NCAA D-II, beat Montrel, ranked 39th in the NAIA, 6-3, 6-1.
Green said Xavier's men's and women's duals against Fisk and Tougaloo in Jackson, Miss., scheduled for Saturday, were postponed. Next competition for the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will be at 9 a.m. Friday against Coastal Georgia in the opening round of the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala.
Results
By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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