Xavier Gold Rush win 4 titles and team scoring at HBCU National Championships

Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush win team scoring at HBCU National
Tennis Championships in College Park, Georgia

COLLEGE PARK, Georgia -- Xavier University of Louisiana, led by double winners Karan Salwan and Manav Chakma, won four men's finals and the team scoring Saturday at the HBCU National Tennis Championships.

All four victories by Xavier, a longtime NAIA member, occurred against NCAA Division I opponents

Salwan -- in his first XU tournament after transferring from Utah State -- defeated Bethune-Cookman's Alexander Chepik 7-5, 6-3 in the A-bracket singles final and teamed with Tushar Mandlekar to beat Florida A&M's Walner Espinoza and Courage Okungbowa 8-4 for the A-doubles title.

Chakma, in the B-singles consolation final, defeated Bethune-Cookman's Greg Almeida 8-1. Chakma and Adam Albrecht beat North Carolina Central's Gabriel Cucalon and Tamina Kienka 8-6 in the B-doubles final.

North Carolina Central was second to Xavier in the men's team scoring, and Florida A&M and Shaw tied for third.

"We won the team title by a pretty good margin," said Alan Green, in his 13th year as coach of Xavier's men and women. "Our point total almost doubled the second-place team."

Also contributing to the team title was three-time All-American Kyle Montrel, who reached the A-singles semifinals and the A-doubles semifinals with Kevin Chaouat.

"All the guys played well this weekend," Green said. "This looks to be a promising season for the Rush. Karan has made an immediate impact and looks to be a guy that can help lead us."

Xavier had no women's matches Saturday. Sha'Nel Bruins was a singles semifinalist in the C bracket.

"The Nuggets were low on numbers for this tournament, but we had some good individual performances on that side," Green said. "Sha'Nel Bruins stood out and had a really good tournament. This was a good tuneup for next weekend's regional."

Xavier will play host to the USTA/ITA NAIA South Regional Championships beginning Friday. City Park/Pepsi Tennis Center will be the venue the first two days, with finals Sept. 27 at XU Tennis Center.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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