XU Gold Rush climb one place to No. 9 in NAIA poll

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana moved from 10th to ninth Tuesday in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll and extended its streak of top-10 appearances.

It's the 27th consecutive time that the Gold Rush (11-11) have been in the top 10 and the 30th time in the last 31 polls. The XU men have 57 consecutive top-25 appearances dating to April 4, 2007.

Xavier lost 5-1 Saturday at home to third-ranked Georgia Gwinnett in the championship of the NAIA Unaffiliated Group 2 Tournament. Gold Rush highlights since the previous poll include a 5-4 victory against the University of New Orleans -- the third straight year that the Rush beat the Privateers -- and a 5-0 decision over No. 25 Oklahoma Baptist in the semifinals of the unaffiliated group tournament.

The Gold Rush hope to receive an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin May 13 in Mobile, Ala. The 24-team men's field will be announced May 5, with pairings to be revealed the following day.

Defending champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) is No. 1 for the seventh time in as many polls this season.

The top 25:

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


Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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