GCAC honors four from Xavier for their weekly work

NEW ORLEANS -- Four from Xavier University of Louisiana -- Amber Brown in women's tennis, Vincenzo Ciccone in men's tennis, Catherine Fakler in women's track and Devinn Rolland in women's field -- are the recipient of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player/Performer of the Week awards for March 10-16.

It's the first time that Brown and Ciccone have been honored.

Brown, a senior from Decatur, Ga., won in singles and doubles in the Gold Nuggets' 5-4 home
victory against Oral Roberts and clinched the dual with a 6-3, 6-3 decision against Mairead Cleary in the final match on the court. The team victory was the Gold Nuggets' first since 2004 against a non-HBCU member of NCAA Division I,

Ciccone, a junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., and a graduate of Aspirations High School and ASA College, scored the lone Gold Rush point in a 6-1 loss at Troy. Ciccone's 7-5, 6-1 victory against Tadju Davies was his second of the semester against an NCAA Division I opponent.

Fakler, a junior from Phoenix, Ariz., and a graduate of Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School, earned her second victory of the season in the 1,500-meter run. Her time  at the McNeese Cowboy Relays was 4 minutes, 44.21 seconds. Fakler is a 10-time GCAC weekly winner -- three times in track (twice this season) and seven times in cross country.

Rolland, a junior from Harvey, La., and a graduate of Cabrini High School, reached the NAIA's A-qualifiying standard in the long jump for the second time in as many meets this season. She finished second in the McNeese meet with a mark of 19 feet, one-half inch and finished ahead of 16 jumpers from NCAA Division I.

Rolland is a 10-time GCAC weekly winner. Last year she won the field award six times and the track award three times.

Xavier's tennis teams will be on the road for four dual matches apiece in four days, beginning at 11 a.m. Thursday against Graceland in Nashville, Tenn. The next XU track competition will be March 29 in the Tulane Team Challenge at Tad Gormley Stadium in New Orleans.


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