XU Rush drop to 8th but in top 10 for 22nd straight time

NEW ORLEANS --Xavier University of Louisiana was eighth in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll on Tuesday. Despite dropping two places from the previous rankings, it's the 22nd consecutive time that the Gold Rush are in the top 10.

Xavier is 2-4 with losses to NCAA Division I members Nicholls State and Louisiana-Lafayette and NAIA members Belhaven and Georgia Gwinnett, both in this week's top 10. The best Gold Rush victory thus far was 6-3 Friday at William Carey, which fell from 13th to 15th.

Defending champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) again was a unanimous choice at No. 1.

Three teams ranked ahead of Xavier -- No. 2 Auburn Montgomery, No. 6 Lindsey Wilson and No. 7 Cumberland -- are on the Gold Rush schedule this season. Auburn Montgomery will visit Xavier on April 5.

Xavier's current poll streaks include 52 consecutive top-25 appearances -- that started April 4, 2007 -- and 28 consecutive times in the top 15.

New rankings will be announced March 4.

The Gold Rush have two more February dual matches: 3 p.m. Saturday against NCAA DI Alabama State at the XU Tennis Center and Feb. 28 at West Florida, ranked third in NCAA Division II.

The top 25:

1. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
2. Auburn Montgomery
3. Vanguard
4. Georgia Gwinnett
5. Westmont
6. Lindsey Wilson
7. Cumberland
8. Xavier
9. Belhaven
10. Aquinas
11. Bethany (Kan.)
12. Concordia (Calif.)
13. Bethel (Tenn.)
14. Graceland
15. William Carey
16. Northwestern Ohio
17. Warner
18. Oklahoma Baptist
19. Northwood (Fla.)
20. Lewis-Clark State
21. Pikeville
22. Olivet Nazarene
23. Campbellsville
24. Davenport
25. McPherson

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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