Rush, Nuggets earn NAIA 1st-round byes, will play May 13

PDF brackets:  Men  •  Women 

NEW ORLEANS — As expected, Xavier University of Louisiana's men and women received first-round byes Tuesday to next week's NAIA Tennis National Championships at Mobile, Ala.

The Gold Rush (12-7) are seeded sixth and will play 11th-seeded Coastal Georgia (10-6) or 22nd-seeded Asbury (15-2) at 9 a.m. May 13 in the round of 16. The Gold Nuggets (15-9), who are seeded fifth, will play 12th-seeded Oklahoma Baptist (12-8) or 21st-seeded SCAD Atlanta (9-7) at 1 p.m. in the same round that same day.

Copeland-Cox Tennis Center (851 Gaillard Drive, zip code 36608, phone 251-208-5181) will be the site of all matches. Mobile is the tournament site for the 12th consecutive year.

Both the women's and men's brackets have 24 teams, with the top eight seeds receiving first-round byes. The five-day tournament will begin next Tuesday (May 12). Quarterfinals will be played May 14, semifinals May 15 and the finals May 16.

The Rush's and Nuggets' seedings are the same as their positions in Monday's coaches poll, the final one before the tournament. The XU women received a first-round bye for the third consecutive year, and the men earned a bye for the fourth time in five seasons.

Neither XU team has played any of its potential second-round opponents this season. A year ago, however, the Gold Rush defeated Coastal Georgia 6-3 in the opening round of the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala., and the Gold Nuggets beat Oklahoma Baptist 5-1 in the semifinals of an NAIA unaffiliated group tournament in New Orleans.

Last year at nationals, the Gold Nuggets reached the semifinals for the second consecutive season, and the Gold Rush reached the quarterfinals for the third straight season.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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