Gold Rush edge past Belhaven 5-4 to reach quarterfinals

MOBILE, Alabama -- Freshman Adam Albrecht, in the final match on the court, won a pair of tiebreakers Thursday to give Xavier University of Louisiana a 5-4 men's tennis victory against Belhaven in the second round of the NAIA National Championship.

Albrecht defeated Enrico Patriarca 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-1) at No. 6 singles to advance the ninth-ranked Gold Rush (13-11) to the quarterfinals for a school-record third consecutive year.

Eighth-ranked Belhaven finished 16-5.

Xavier will play top-ranked and defending champion Embry-Riddle (Fla.) at 5 p.m. Thursday.

"I've been playing 12 years, and I think this is the first time I've won two tiebreakers in a match," Albrecht said. "I just try to keep calm in tiebreakers and play each point like it's a practice match."

Albrecht (10-9) became the sixth XU male this season to reach double-digit victories.

"I made a last-minute decision to go with Adam at No. 6, and it paid off for us big-time," XU coach Alan Green said. "I'm so proud of Adam for being ready and coming through in crunch time for us."

Nikita Soifer and another freshman, Tushar Mandlekar, won in doubles and singles for Xavier. Soifer and Kyle Montrel won 8-4 at No. 1 doubles against Nikita Lisov and David Mejia, then Soifer gave the Rush a 3-2 lead when he beat Lisov 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2.

Mandlekar and Kevin Chaouat built a 5-1 lead but needed to win the last two games to prevail 8-6 at No. 2 against Andre Borghi and Patriarca, then Mandlekar gave the Rush a 4-3 lead when he beat Mejia 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 at No. 5.

Mandlekar tied Montrel for the team lead in singles victories with 16.

The victory was the seventh in the last nine duals for Xavier, which moved two victories above .500 for the first time this season and assured itself of a fourth consecutive winning season.

The victory was the seventh for the Gold Rush this season against a ranked opponent, and this one came against a Belhaven team which won 5-4 at home against Xavier on Feb. 15. The Gold Rush eliminated the Blazers in the second round at nationals a year ago.

"Our guys knew this would be a tough matchup, and they fought hard all day," Green said.

This is the first time the Gold Rush have won twice in the same national tournament. Xavier advanced to the quarterfinals after first-round byes the past two years.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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