NEW ORLEANS — For the third straight season, the men of Xavier University of Louisiana have received multiple Intercollegiate Tennis Association/NAIA end-of-season regional awards.Catalin Fifea of the Gold Rush was named Most Improved Senior in Region IV (South), and Shaikh Abdullah was chosen Rookie of the Year. The ITA announced the awards Wednesday.
Fifea, from Bucharest, Romania, is 16-11 in singles for a Gold Rush team that is ranked fourth nationally. He is No. 17 in the ITA/NAIA singles rankings and has eight victories in his last 10 doubles decisions. Fifea is playing No. 1 singles for the Gold Rush this season after being in the middle of the lineup a year ago for XULA's national runner-up team.
Abdullah, a freshman from Hyderabad, India, has eight singles and doubles victories apiece, and he is 3-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles against NCAA Division I opponents. Abdullah is ranked third nationally in doubles with Antoine Richard and 46th in singles.
It's the first time since 2008-09 that two Gold Rush teammates were honored regionally. It's also the first time that the Rush won the same regional player award in consecutive years. Richard last season was the Region IV and National Rookie of the Year.
Fifea and Abdullah will receive their awards Monday evening in Mobile, Ala., at a banquet for the men's and women's teams participating in the NAIA National Championships. The ITA's national winners will be announced at that time.
The Gold Rush (11-11), seeded fourth, have a first-round tournament bye and will play Middle Georgia or Asbury in the round of 16 at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center.
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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