3 from Xavier earn GCAC Player of the Week awards

Caroline Vernet: Wins in first week of eligibility



Nikita Soifer: Fourth GCAC award of his career

Morris Wright: Third GCAC award this season

NEW ORLEANS — The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference announced Tuesday that three from Xavier University of Louisiana received Player of the Week awards for Feb. 2-8: Morris Wright in men's basketball, Nikita Soifer in men's tennis and Caroline Vernet in women's tennis.

Wright, a 5-foot-10 junior guard from Zachary, La., and a former Zachary High School and Baton Rouge Community College standout, won the award for the third time this season, the most in 2014-15 GCAC men's basketball. He led Xavier in scoring (18.0 points per game), assists (4.0), steals (3.0) and made 3-pointers (6) during a 2-0 week which extended Xavier's win streak to eight — its longest win streak in four years. Wright had 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals against Edward Waters, then had 16 points — 11 in the second half — four rebounds, five assists and two steals against Voorhees.

Wright made 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to help Xavier rally from an 8-point deficit in the final six minutes against Voorhees. For the season, he leads Xavier in scoring (13.8), assists (3.8) and steals (1.7).

Soifer, a senior from Beer Sheva, Israel, and a graduate of Hof Hasharon, remained unbeaten for the spring semester. He won in singles and doubles at NCAA Division I Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday and again Saturday in a home victory against NAIA No. 10 Belhaven.

Soifer's GCAC award is his first this season and the fourth of his career.

Vernet, a home-schooled freshman from Lyon, France, won her GCAC award in her first week of eligibility. She made her collegiate debut during the weekend with a doubles victory against Belhaven and doubles and singles victories against LSU-Alexandria.

Xavier men's basketball will compete at 4 p.m. Saturday against Philander Smith in Little Rock, Ark. Xavier women's tennis will visit Louisiana-Lafayette at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, and the Gold Nuggets will join the men's team for home duals at 11 a.m. Saturday against William Carey. All three teams are ranked among the NAIA's top 25.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director 
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