Gold Nuggets tie school record, but Rush fall 5-4

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis dominated William Carey 5-0 to tie a school record for consecutive victories, but the XULA men dropped all three singles matches that went three sets and lost 5-4 Thursday to the Crusaders.
     
The Gold Nuggets (14-7), ranked fourth in the NAIA, got doubles and singles victories from Mariia Borodii and Charlene Goreau to win their 11th in a row, matching the program mark set in 2013. It was the Nuggets' ninth victory this season against a top-20 NAIA opponent and fourth against the top 10. The Lady Crusaders (8-4) are ranked sixth.
     
The Gold Rush (10-9), ranked third, lost to the 14th-ranked Crusaders (9-3) for the first time since Feb. 8, 2013. The XULA men had won 11 straight against William Carey before Thursday, including 5-4 March 2 at Carey.
     
Goreau earned her 12th straight singles victory, 6-0, 6-1 against Maria Andreeva. Borodii, 13-0 as a collegian in singles, clinched with a 6-1, 6-0 decision against Alena Saettler.
    
 Pierre Andrieu won in doubles and singles for the Rush, including a 7-6 (7-5), 7-5 decision against Enzo Simon that gave XULA a 4-3 lead. But the Crusaders rallied when Leon Hoppstaedter beat Shaikh Abdullah 2-6, 6-0, 6-4 and Atikan Juprang clinched with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory against Gabriel Niculescu.
     
In the Gold Rush's last two losses to NAIA opponents — the other was current No. 2 Keiser — XULA was a combined 0-5 in three-set matches.

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