Chikhaoui wins to give Rush 5-4 win vs. No. 6 Carey

NEW ORLEANS — Junior Samir Chikhaoui preserved the good vibes of senior day with a three-set decision that clinched Xavier University of Louisiana's 5-4 victory against William Carey in a Saturday matchup of top-10 NAIA men's tennis teams.
     
The seventh-ranked Gold Rush (13-6) won the first four matches, including a doubles sweep, but couldn't exhale until Chikhaoui beat Atikan Juprang — who was hindered by third-set cramps — 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
     
"Both guys battled through humidity," XULA head coach Alan Green said, "and we were a little stronger."
     
Honored before the match were seniors Chris Anders, Pierre Andrieu and Gabriel Niculescu. Anders and Niculescu scored the first point with an 8-2 victory against Juprang and Akanit Pumjit at No. 3 doubles. Santiago Perez and Shaikh Abdullah then defeated Tim Fischer and Ben Griedelbach 8-1 on the first court, then Andrieu and Chikhaoui won the final five games in an 8-4 victory against Hugo Robuchon and Elvyn Nguyen.
     
"We played some of our best doubles today and needed that," Green said.
     
Perez beat Fischer 6-0, 6-3 at No. 1 singles to make it 4-0, then sixth-ranked Carey (9-3) rallied and tied the score when Enzo Simon defeated Niculescu 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
     
XULA ended the five-match win streak of the Crusaders, who won 5-4 against the Gold Rush five weeks ago.
     
"Carey has a great team and is deserving of their ranking," Green said. "It was another hard-fought match that went down to the wire with them."
     
The Gold Rush finished the home schedule 7-0 and has gone unbeaten at home four of the last five seasons.
     
Green expects this victory to be a catalyst toward a fifth consecutive first-round bye at the NAIA National Championship tournament and the Gold Rush's eighth in the last nine years.
     
"I believe with this win we are in a great spot to secure a bye," Green said.
     
The NAIA will announce April 29 the 48 teams — 24 men's and 24 women's — that will qualify for nationals, then announce the pairings April 30. First-round matches will begin May 14 in Mobile, Ala.
     
The Gold Rush have three regular-season matches remaining, with the next next one April 18 at NAIA No. 15 Mobile.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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