Gold Nuggets, Gold Rush lose at Lindsey Wilson

XU's Kourtney Howell and Nour Abbes

COLUMBIA, Kentucky -- Xavier University of Louisiana lost to Lindsey Wilson in matchups of top-10 NAIA women's and men's tennis teams Friday. The Gold Nuggets lost 5-4, and the Gold Rush lost 6-3.

Xavier's women are ranked second, and the men are seventh. Lindsey Wilson's women are ranked fourth, and the men are sixth.

Lindsey Wilson's women (2-3) rallied from a 3-1 deficit to snap the six-dual winning streak of the Gold Nuggets (9-5). In the final match on the court, Anna Gaprindashvili clinched for the Blue Raiders with a 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory at No. 5 singles against Simone-Alyse Ewell.

XU's Nour Abbes and Kourtney Howell defeated NAIA-ranked singles players. Abbes improved to 9-0 with a 6-1, 6-1 victory against 28th-ranked Sarah Bernos. Howell rallied to beat 19th-ranked Alejandra Galvis 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

In the men's dual, Kyle Montrel and Nikita Soifer accounted for all the Xavier points. Lindsey Wilson won three of the four singles matches which went to a third set, with Pablo Vilches clinching for the Raiders at No. 6 with a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 decision against Vincenzo Ciccone.

Montrel defeated 18th-ranked Edberg Espinoza 6-4, 6-2. Soifer beat regionally ranked Raul Mendez 7-6 (7-3), 5-7, 6-1.

Lindsey Wilson's men are 5-1, and the Gold Rush are 5-8.

"Very difficult defeats," XU coach Alan Green said. "We weren't prepared for Lindsey Wilson, and that is my fault. I have to do a better job of getting us ready mentally and physically."

Both XU teams will play Milligan at 11 a.m. Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. Milligan's women are ranked 18th in the NAIA.


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