Gold Nuggets get 3rd straight road win vs. top-15 team

PHOENIX, Arizonia — Xavier University of Louisiana won three matches Thursday against nationally ranked opponents and rolled to an 8-1 women's tennis victory against Arizona Christian.
     
It was the Gold Nuggets' third consecutive dual-match triumph on the road against an NAIA top-15 opponent. XULA (6-7) is ranked 10th, and Arizona Christian (7-2) is 13th.
     
Mariia Borodii and Yi Chen Pao defeated the ITA's 24th-ranked NAIA doubles team, Autria Compton and Maria Garduno, 8-1. In singles, Borodii beat 18th-ranked Mikayla Morgan 6-1, 6-1, and Charlene Goreau defeated 24th-ranked Tia Okano 6-0, 6-0.
     
Goreau was one of three Gold Nuggets to win 6-0, 6-0 in singles. Angela Charles-Alfreddid it against Garduno, and Farah Baklouti did it against Sydney Smith.
     
Pao clinched with a 6-1, 6-1 decision against Elizabeth Kelley.
     
All six ACU singles players were regionally ranked, but XULA won a combined 72-of-79 games against them.
     
"We let a doubles match get away from us," XULA coach Alan Green said, "and that kind of got us a little more motivated in singles. We played well on all the singles courts."
     
Overall this season the Nuggets have won five duals against top-20 opponents, all on the road.
     
XULA, in Phoenix for five dual matches in four days, will play Lewis-Clark State at 2 p.m. MST Friday. The next home dual will start at noon March 18 against 15th-ranked SCAD Atlanta at XULA Tennis Center.

Results

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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