Gold Nuggets are No. 1 in NAIA for second straight week

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana is No. 1 in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the second consecutive week.

The Gold Nuggets (15-6) climbed from No. 2 to the top spot a week ago after defeating then-No. 1 Georgia Gwinnett 5-3 in the championship of the NAIA Unaffiliated Group Tournament on April 26. Xavier held on to its ranking on Monday by collecting 12-of-13 first-place votes.

The Gold Nuggets have four victories against teams in this week's top 10.

Xavier is expected to be the top seed for the NAIA National Championship, which will begin May 13 in Mobile, Ala. The NAIA announced Monday that Xavier was one of 24 teams which qualified. Seedings and pairings for the tournament will be revealed by 5 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes and compete in the second round May 14. The championship will be May 17.

Xavier was No. 1 entering the 2013 national tournament before losing in the semifinals.

The NAIA will announce a postseason poll May 21.

The top 25:

1. Xavier
2. Georgia Gwinnett
3. Lindsey Wilson
4. Auburn Montgomery
5. Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
6. Brenau
7. SCAD Savannah
8. Vanguard
9. Northwood (Fla.)
10. Oklahoma Baptist
11. Westmont
12. Graceland
13. Coastal Georgia
14. Milligan
15. Concordia (Calif.)
16. Davenport
17. Lewis-Clark State
18. Indiana Wesleyan
19. Cardinal Stritch
20. Northwestern Ohio
21. St. Thomas (Fla.)
22. Marian (Ind.)
23. Olivet Nazarene
24. Campbellsville
25. McPherson

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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