Gold Rush jump from 9th to 7th in NAIA coaches poll

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana made the second-biggest climb Tuesday -- from ninth place to seventh -- in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

The Gold Rush (4-7) are in the top 10 for the 24th straight time and in the top 25 for the 54th consecutive time dating to April 4, 2007.

Xavier is 2-2 since the previous poll, but both victories were against ranked teams, Coastal Georgia and Cumberland. Coastal Georgia made the largest climb in the poll, from 25th to 15th.

Defending champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) remained No. 1 for the fourth time in as many polls, but it's the first time this season that the Eagles are not a unanimous choice for the top spot. Embry-Riddle received 7-of-12 first-place votes, with No. 2 Auburn Montgomery collecting three and No. 3 Georgia Gwinnett getting two. Embry-Riddle is three poll points ahead of AUM.

Beginning Thursday, the XU men will be on the road for four duals in four days. In Nashville, Tenn., they'll play No. 13 Graceland on Thursday and unranked Milligan on Saturday. The Gold Rush will visit No. 6 Lindsey Wilson on Friday and No. 8 Cumberland on Sunday.

The top 25:

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


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