Student-athletes, managers receive Xavier degrees

An all-time winner, 89 year old Herbert P. Douglas Jr., 
 founder of International Amateur Athletic Association 
(1980) to honor Jesse Owens and XU's only Olympian
(Bronze Medal, Long Jump, 1948 London Olympics)
was awarded the honorary doctor of human letters
at Xavier University 84th Annual Commencement.

NEW ORLEANS -- Twelve student-athletes received degrees Saturday at Xavier University of Louisiana's 2011 commencement at Lakefront Arena.

Also graduating were three student managers employed by the athletics department.
Student-athletes graduating were:

* Devin Emile Andrew, Harvey, La. (Vandebilt Catholic and Karr high schools), men's basketball, bachelor of arts

* Ashley Jennise Broden, Baton Rouge, La. (Baton Rouge Magnet), women's cross country, doctor of pharmacy

* Landon E. Bussie, Baltimore, Md. (Woodlawn), men's basketball, bachelor of science

* Melissa Lauren Tshepi DeLoach, Fort Washington, Md. (Bishop McNamara), women's tennis, bachelor of science

* Yuliem Dominguez, Destrehan, La. (Destrehan High School), women's tennis, bachelor of science

* Ebony Kashim Harding, Baton Rouge, La. (Baton Rouge Magnet), women's cross country, doctor of pharmacy

* Danielle Christine Jones, Baton Rouge, La. (Episcopal), women's basketball and volleyball, bachelor of science

* Colleen Tracy McArthur, Marietta, Ga. (Pace Academy), women's tennis, bachelor of arts

* Brittany Marie Powell, Milwaukee, Wis. (Divine Savior Holy Angels), women's basketball, bachelor of arts

* Mikhail Jeffrey Vaval, New Orleans (Da Le Salle), men's tennis, bachelor of science

* Erin Whitney Vincent, The Woodlands, Texas (Oak Ridge), women's volleyball, bachelor of science

* Stacey Ann Windon, Prairieville, La. (Redemptorist), women's cross country, bachelor of arts.
Student managers graduating were:

* Tamorah Marie Hawthorne, men's basketball, bachelor of science

* Valencia Latrice Johnson, women's basketball, bachelor of arts

* Mark C. Raymond Jr., men's and women's tennis, bachelor of science.

Bussie, Jones, McArthur, Powell and Vaval completed degree requirements in December. Vincent graduated cum laude. Jones -- who graduated summa cum laude and with honors in English, history, chemistry and biology -- will attend medical school at Johns Hopkins University beginning in August.

Herbert Douglas, an XU men's track and field standout from the early 1940s, was one of three recipients of honorary degrees. Douglas received a doctor of humane letters.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

XU Gold Rush back in NAIA top 10 after climbing two places

NEW ORLEANS — For the fourth time in five polls, Xavier University of Louisiana is among the top 10 in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25.

The Gold Rush (13-9) climbed two spots Tuesday to No. 9 after beating Bethel (Tenn.) 6-0 and Martin Methodist 5-2 to win an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament at Chattanooga, Tenn. XU's men qualified for the national tournament for the third consecutive year.

Xavier was No. 8, a program record, for three consecutive polls beginning March 8.

The Gold Rush are in the the top 25 for the 31st consecutive time dating to April 4, 2007 — that's the fifth longest active streak among NAIA men's teams — and it's the 22nd straight time dating to April 30, 2008, that the Gold Rush are among the top 18.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, May 1) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Fresno Pacific (12) 21-2 312 1 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 14-6 302 2 3 Auburn Montgomery 23-3 291 3 4 Oklahoma Christian 21-1 279 5 5 Azusa Pacific 15-6 276 4 6 Westmont 12-5 262 6 7 Point Loma Nazarene 15-7 252 7 8 Vanguard 7-13 228 12 9 Xavier 13-9 225 11 10 Union (Ky.) 17-5 217 10 11 Concordia (Calif.) 8-14 207 8 12 Shorter 12-4 206 15 13 Graceland 11-5 193 13 14 William Carey 12-9 183 9 15 Lindsey Wilson 14-5 176 17 16 Aquinas 24-3 174 14 17 St. Thomas (Fla.) 14-3 157 16 18 Olivet Nazarene 14-3 132 19 19 Lewis-Clark State 10-8 127 18 20 McKendree 20-3 122 tie-20 21 Tennessee Wesleyan 11-6 115 22 22 SCAD Savannah 7-4 109 tie-20 23 Martin Methodist 14-5 90 23 24 Webber International 13-6 79 24 25 Bethany (Kan.) 19-3 69 tie-25 Others receiving votes: Lee (Tenn.) 59; Campbellsville 41, Northwood (Fla.) 23, Huntington (Ind.) 23, Cumberland 22, Lindenwood 19, Northwestern Ohio 13, Walsh 6, Our Lady of the Lake 5, Georgetown (Ky.) 1, Biola 1.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, May 1) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Fresno Pacific (10) 18-4 281 1 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (1) 20-3 272 2 3 Auburn Montgomery 23-5 260 4 4 Azusa Pacific 19-4 253 6 5 Oklahoma Christian 17-2 244 5 6 Point Loma Nazarene 18-3 242 3 7 Concordia (Calif.) 14-7 226 7 8 Brenau 10-7 218 8 9 SCAD Savannah 10-2 207 9 10 Vanguard 10-10 201 10 11 Southern Nazarene 14-6 184 12 12 William Carey 14-6 182 13 13 Lee (Tenn.) 9-5 171 16 14 Olivet Nazarene 19-1 160 14 15 Shorter 11-4 156 11 16-tie Indiana Wesleyan 21-1 139 17 16-tie Lewis-Clark State 6-14 139 21 18 Martin Methodist 15-5 127 18 19 Lindsey Wilson 13-5 121 23 20 Oklahoma Baptist 9-10 110 15 21 St. Thomas (Fla.) 9-9 102 19 22 Campbellsville 14-5 96 20 23 William Jewell 17-7 90 22 24 Webber International 12-9 68 24 25 Belhaven 14-3 60 25 Others receiving votes: Westmont 42, Milligan 41, Cumberlands 27, Robert Morris (Chicago) 23, Indiana Southeast 19, McKendree 17, Taylor 5, The Master's 3, Northwood (Fla.) 3, Xavier 1, Mobile 1, Georgetown (Ky.) 1, Spring Hill 1,; Marian (Ind.) 1.

Lee (Tenn.) dropped out of the top 25 after being tied for 25th in the previous poll. That snapped the Flames' streak of 47 consecutive appearances in the top 25. There are no new teams in this week's top 25, and Xavier was one of seven teams to climb. The top three teams are the same as the previous poll, with Fresno Pacific ranked first for the 14th consecutive time. Martin Methodist, 0-2 this season against Xavier, remained 23rd.

This was the seventh of eight polls this season. The final rankings will be announced Sunday.

The Gold Rush will play May 17 in the first round or May 18 in the second round of the NAIA National Championship at Mobile, Ala.

Xavier's women, whose season ended Saturday with a 5-0 loss to Milligan in the semifinals of the qualifying tournament, are out of the top 25 for the fourth consecutive time. The Gold Nuggets collected one point to tie for 35th place.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Xavier Gold Nuggets' season ends with semifinal loss to Milligan

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Just call it a pause in the recent success of the Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis program.

Milligan defeated the Gold Nuggets 5-0 Saturday in the semifinals of an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament. That ended Xavier's bid for a fourth consecutive appearance at next month's national tournament, and it ended the Nuggets' season at 4-18 — a sharp contrast to Coach Alan Green's first seven teams, which won nearly 70 percent of their dual matches.

"We'll be back," Green said. "Recruiting for next season is going well. We have some young talent coming back next season, and they're going to improve. I expect us to return to form."

Xavier dropped out of the top 25 on March 22 after 44 consecutive appearances dating to 2004, and the Nuggets won't appear the final top 25 for the first time since 2003. But Green said one important component never disappeared this season.

"Our women played hard this entire year," Green said. "I'm proud of each of them. The fight they showed will carry them in life, further than any amount of wins could ever do."

The 2010-11 Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis team.
Amber Brown, Melissa DeLoach, Nicole DeLoach, Yazmin Hooper,
Courtney Martin, Ashley McGill, Carmen Nelson and Coach Alan Green

Milligan (12-6) swept the three doubles matches — the closest was Albany Kelly and Caitlin Conley's 8-6 victory over Carmen Nelson and Melissa DeLoach at the first flight — and the Buffaloes clinched when Halie Winfrey beat freshman walk-on Courtney Martin 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

Two Xavier freshmen led their singles matches when the dual ended. Amber Brown led Kelly 6-4, 2-2 at No. 2, and Nicole DeLoach, Melissa's sister, led Celeste Carpenter 6-1, 4-3 at No. 4.

It was the final collegiate competition for Melissa DeLoach, a four-year letterwoman and this year's team MVP, and Ashley McGill. DeLoach trailed 6-4, 1-0 against Caitlin Conley at No. 3 singles when the dual ended. McGill and Martin lost 8-4 to Jessie Rose Remegi and JoLynne Heidt at No. 3 doubles, and Heidt beat McGill 6-1, 6-1 at No. 6 singles to give Milligan a 4-0 lead.

The Nuggets played the entire regular season with five players, resulting in automatic defaults at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles against opponents at full strength. The schedule was difficult too — half of the Nuggets' losses were to NCAA Division I opponents, and there were four more defeats against ranked NAIA opponents.

"We're not looking for any sympathy," Green said. "Like I said, our women battled all year. We hope to be much better on the court next season, and we'll try again to play as hard a schedule as we can. We'll look forward to those challenges."

Results

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

XU Gold Rush advance to title match by beating Bethel (Tenn.)

Sean Richardson, left, and Steffen Giles-Osborn
 won doubles and singles matches.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis team defeated Bethel (Tenn.) 6-0 Friday to reach the championship round of an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament.

The Gold Rush (12-9), ranked 11th in the NAIA and seeded first in the tournament, will play 23rd-ranked and second-seeded Martin Methodist for the championship at 12:30 p.m. EDT Saturday. The winner will receive an automatic berth in next month's national tourney.

Steffen Giles-Osborn, Sean Richardson and Hassan Abbas won in doubles and singles to help the Gold Rush snap a four-dual losing streak.

Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson scored the first point of the dual with their 8-2 victory over Paolo Vecchi and Eduardo Espinar at No. 2 doubles. It was the first victory in five matches for the XU juniors.

Abbas and Zach Taylor beat Ryan Weatherly and Kristian Takac 8-3, and freshmen Amir Rahbar and Jonathan Aubrey completed the doubles sweep with an 8-6 decision against Joao Souza and Raphael Sousa.

Abbas clinched the dual with his 6-0, 6-2 victory over Souza at No. 1 singles. Giles-Osborn beat Espinar, an All-TranSouth Conference singles selection, 6-2, 6-1 at No. 3, and Richardson topped Weatherly 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5.

Bethel finished 5-14 and lost 11 of its last 12 duals.

Martin Methodist was a 6-1 winner against Cumberland in the other semifinal. Xavier beat Martin Methodist 6-3 on Feb. 18 at Nashville, Tenn.

Results

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Arizona distance runner Fakler signs with Xavier Gold Nuggets

NEW ORLEANS — Catherine Fakler of Phoenix, Ariz., and Xavier College Preparatory Roman Catholic High School has signed a women's cross country scholarship with Xavier University of Louisiana.

Fakler (pronounced FOCK-ler) has best times of 19 minutes, 22.68 seconds for three miles and 20:44.70 for 5,000 meters. She recorded her 5K best at the Nike Cross Nationals Southwest Regional at Gilbert, Ariz., in November.

Catherine Fakler

Other best times for Fakler include 5:24.98 for 1,600 meters and 11:55.52 for 3,200 meters — both recorded during the current outdoor track season — and 2:28.38 in the 800.

As a sophomore in 2008, Fakler finished 33rd out of 154 runners in Arizona's Class 5A Division I state meet. She was the Gators' fourth fastest finisher and helped XCP win the team championship.

Fakler has a 4.0 grade-point average at XCP and a composite ACT score of 30.

"I am very excited to have Catherine join our women's cross country program," XU Coach Joseph Moses said. "I expect her to be one of our top three runners this fall."

Xavier's other female signee for 2011 is Zahri Jackson of Kingwood, Texas.

Xavier University competes in the NAIA's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and won the last five GCAC women's and men's team championships.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Xavier Gold Rush to conduct tryouts Saturday at The Barn

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will conduct men's basketball tryouts for the 2011-12 season on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Barn.

Participants must bring an academic transcript. The tryout is open to current XU and junior-college students and to 12th-graders graduating in 2011.

The Barn, Xavier's gymnasium, can be found on online maps by using 3999 Short Street and the 70125 zip code.

Contact assistant coach Alfred Williams at (504) 520-6778 or awilli39@xula.edu for more information.

Xavier was 27-6 in 2010-11, ranked 17th in the final NAIA Division I poll and qualified for the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship for the fifth time in seven seasons.

PDF brochure

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Informaiton Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Gold Rush Andrew, Simmons are third-team HBCU All-Americans

Anthony Simmons

Devin Andrew

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Devin Andrew and Anthony Simmons are third-team selections on the Boxtorow.com Division II/NAIA HBCU All-America team announced Tuesday.

Andrew — a 6-foot-4 senior guard from Harvey, La., a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a former student at Karr High School in New Orleans — led the Gold Rush this season with 10.9 points per game, 1.2 steals per game and 111 free throws in 147 attempts. He won two January home games with points in the final two seconds. Andrew played in 32 games and started 17.

Simmons, a 6-8 sophomore forward from Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, averaged nine points and 5.5 rebounds in 32 games with 19 starts. He was Xavier's No. 2 scorer and rebounder and led the team with a .598 field-goal percentage.

Xavier recorded its first 13-0 start since 1940-41 and winningest season (27-6) since 1983-84. Xavier earned an at-large berth to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship and ranked 17th in the final coaches poll.

The team was selected by media members from around the country who cover NCAA Division II and NAIA basketball.



2010-11 Boxtorow.com Division II/NAIA HBCU All-America Team
First Team
Sharif Bray, Cheyney
Paul Davis, Winston-Salem State
Marcus Goode, Benedict
Najee Lane, Clark Atlanta
Raheem Smith, Shaw

Second Team
David Burton, Cheyney
Braxton Byerson, Virginia Union
Mario Luckett, Tougaloo
Trevin Parks, Johnson C. Smith
Eric Vann, Bowie State

Third Team
Devin Andrew, Xavier
Darius Cox, Livingstone
Josh Miller, West Virginia State
Lajay Sears, Stillman
Anthony Simmons, Xavier

Player of the Year: Raheem Smith, Shaw
Coach of the Year: Cleo Hill, Shaw

Honorable Mention: Shelton Carter, Winston-Salem State; Andre Davis, SUNO; Sidney Evans, Fayetteville State; Kerry Harvis, Talladega; Tony Johnson, Kentucky State; Myron McGowan, Dillard; Denzel Mooney, Lincoln (Pa.); Ibn-Saed Rasoull, Saint Paul's; Maurice Reevy, Saint Paul's; Eric Salley, Claflin; Rondy Tucker, Elizabeth City State

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Athlete Honor Society Welcomes Seven From XU's New Chapter

NEW ORLEANS — Seven from Xavier University of Louisiana — Iva Bobkova, Brianna Dekine, Patrice Hightower, Danielle Jones, Marchelle Jones, Jamaan Kenner and Ashley Taylor — became XU's first members of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society on Tuesday.

The organization recognizes outstanding academic achievement by intercollegiate varsity letterwinners.  Members must have junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative 3.4 grade-point average.

Xavier's first Chi Alpha Sigma members: 
From left, Iva Bobkova, Brianna Dekine, Danielle Jones,
Marchelle Jones, Ashley Taylor, Patrice Hightower and Jamaan Kenner.

Bobkova (women's volleyball) is from Brno, Czech Republic, and a graduate of Ludvika Danka and New Mexico Military Institute. Dekine (women's cross country) is from Culver City, Calif., and a graduate of Culver City High School. Hightower (women's volleyball) is from New Orleans and a graduate of McGehee School. Danielle Jones (volleyball in 2010, women's basketball from 2007-10) and her sister Marchelle (women's basketball) are from Baton Rouge, La., and graduates of Episcopal High School. Kenner (men's basketball) is from LaPlace, La., and a graduate of East St. John High School. Taylor (women's cross country) is from LaPlace and a graduate of New Orleans' Cabrini High School.



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

XU Gold Rush doubly disappointed in loss at William Carey

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — William Carey swept three doubles matches and rolled to a 6-3 victory over Xavier University of Louisiana in a meeting of ranked NAIA men's tennis teams Sunday.

William Carey's 13th-ranked women defeated Xavier 8-1.

Carey's men (10-8), ranked 19th, avenged a 5-4 loss to the No. 8 Gold Rush (11-8) from four weeks ago at the AUM Invitational, when Xavier won two of three doubles matches. Jody Claassen and Thomas Rizk, a 9-8 loser to Zach Taylor and Hassan Abbas in March, won 8-2 against the ITA's 15th-ranked tandem to give the Crusaders their first point of the dual. Anton Ivanov and Alvar Ribalta made it 3-0 when they beat Steffen Giles-Osborn and Sean Richardson 9-8 (7-5), and Claassen clinched at No 1 singles when Giles-Osborn retired while trailing 5-7, 6-1, 1-0.



Results:  Men    Women

Abbas, Amir Rahbar and Richardson won in singles for Xavier. Abbas rallied to beat Toni Gauta 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 at No. 2, Rahbar defeated Younes Hidass 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 at No. 4, and Richardson beat Dominik Kardell 6-2, 6-3 at No. 6. But the Abbas and Rahbar victories came after the dual was decided.

Xavier (3-15) scored its only point of the women's dual when sisters Melissa and Nicole DeLoach snapped a three-match losing streak by holding off Anastasia Khabirova and Petra Pesic 8-6 at No. 2. But the Gold Nuggets again were shorthanded, defaulting the No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles matches, and William Carey (12-5) clinched when Joyce Oliviera defeated Ashley McGill 6-1, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

Melissa DeLoach lost 6-2, 2-6, 1-0 (10-6) to Alexandra Kaluza at No. 3 in DeLoach's first singles super-tiebreaker of the season.

Both William Carey teams have four-dual win streaks. Xavier's men have lost three in a row, and the Gold Nuggets have lost four straight and 13 of their last 14.

Both Xavier teams will close the regular season this week — the Gold Rush at Tulane at 3 p.m. Wednesday, the Gold Nuggets against South Alabama at 11 a.m. Saturday at City Park — then travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., for an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament April 29-30.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Honorable mention for XU's Simmons on All-Louisiana team

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Anthony Simmons received honorable mention on the All-Louisiana collegiate men's basketball team announced late Saturday.

Warren, a 6-foot-8 sophomore forward from Rochester, N.Y., and a graduate of Allendale Columbia School, averaged nine points and 5.5 rebounds in 32 games with 19 starts for the Gold Rush, which was 27-6 and earned an at-large bid to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. Simmons was Xavier's No. 2 scorer and rebounder and led the team with a .598 field-goal percentage.

All-Louisiana Basketball Honorable Mention
Anthony Simmons

Simmons helped the XU men record their first 13-0 start since 1940-41 and their winningest season since 1983-84.

A Louisiana Sports Writers Association panel selected the team.

2010-11 LSWA All-Louisiana Men's Basketball Team
First Team
Anatoly Bose, Nicholls State
Kendall Timmons, Tulane
Pat Richard, McNeese State
Olu Ashaolu, Louisiana Tech
Ryan Brock, Loyola

Second Team
William Mosley, Northwestern State
Will Pratt, Northwestern State
Diego Kapelan, McNeese State
Zach Kinsley, New Orleans
Justin Patton, Grambling

Third Team
Eric Young, LSU-Shreveport
J.J. Thomas, Louisiana-Lafayette
Derrick Parker, LSU-Shreveport
Fred Brown, Louisiana-Monroe
DeAndre Brown, Louisiana Tech

Player of the Year: Anatoly Bose, Nicholls State
Newcomer of the Year: Eric Young, LSU-Shreveport
Freshman of the Year: J.J. Thomas, Louisiana-Lafayette
Coach of the Year: Dave Simmons, McNeese State

Honorable Mention: P.J. Alawoya, McNeese State; Devon Baker, Northwestern State; Trent Hutchin, Southeastern Louisiana; Brent Leduff, SUNO; Anthony Simmons, Xavier; Tommie Sykes, Louisiana-Monroe; Rolston Turner, LSU.



By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XAVIERATHLETICS

XU Gold Rush are eighth in NAIA for third consecutive time

NEW ORLEANS — For the third straight time Xavier University of Louisiana is No. 8 in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The fifth of eight polls this season was announced Tuesday.

The No. 8 ranking is the highest ever for an XU men's tennis team.

The Gold Rush (11-7) are in the the top 25 for the 29th consecutive time dating to April 4, 2007. It's the 20th straight time dating to April 30, 2008, that the Gold Rush are among the top 18.

The top nine teams are the same as the previous poll, with Fresno Pacific ranked first for the 12th consecutive time.

A new team in the rankings, No 19 William Carey, will play host to the XU men at 10 a.m. Sunday. Xavier defeated the Crusaders 5-4 on March 13 in the AUM Invitational at Montgomery, Ala.

The Gold Rush will close the regular season April 13 at city rival Tulane in a 3 p.m. dual, then travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., for an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament April 29-30.



NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 3)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Fresno Pacific (10) 15-2 250 1
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 10-5 240 2
3 Auburn Montgomery 17-3 231 3
4 Azusa Pacific 13-4 227 4
5 Oklahoma Christian 13-1 220 5
6 Point Loma Nazarene 11-3 211 6
7 Westmont 8-5 202 7
8 Xavier 11-7 191 8
9 Concordia (Calif.) 6-9 189 9
10 Vanguard 5-11 174 12
11 Graceland 4-4 171 11
12 Shorter 7-1 163 13
13 St. Thomas (Fla.) 10-2 151 14
14 Aquinas 16-3 139 16
15 Lewis-Clark State 8-7 136 15
16 SCAD Savannah 7-3 126 25
17 Olivet Nazarene 11-0 121 19
18 McKendree 12-1 117 tie-20
19 William Carey 6-8 103 RV
20 Martin Methodist 8-4 102 24
21 Webber International 13-4 91 17
22 Cumberland 4-2 83 18
23 Lee (Tenn.) 3-4 76 22
24 Lindenwood 5-1 56 RV
25 Bethany (Kan.) 11-3 50 RV

Others receiving votes: Northwood (Fla.) 49, Biola 30, Oklahoma Baptist 30, Northwestern Ohio 28, Huntington (Ind.) 28, Belhaven 19, William Jewell 1, Bethel (Tenn.) 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Xavier Gold Nuggets lose more ground in NAIA rankings

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was among the others receiving votes for the second consecutive time when the NAIA announced its women's tennis top 25 Tuesday.

The Gold Nuggets are 29th overall after receiving 16 points and missing the top 25 by 41 points. Xavier's women had appeared in 44 consecutive top 25s dating to 2004 before falling short in the March 22 poll.

Defending NAIA champion Fresno Pacific is No. 1 for the fifth time in as many polls this season. The Sunbirds collected nine of 10 first-place votes, with No. 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) receiving the other.

Xavier (3-14), loser of three straight duals and 12 of its last 13, will travel to 13th-ranked William Carey for a 10 a.m. dual Sunday. The Gold Nuggets will close the regular season against South Alabama at 11 a.m. on April 16 at City Park, then travel to Chattanooga, Tenn., for an NAIA National Championship qualifying tournament April 29-30.



Videographer: EdFunders; Dr. Norman Francis, America's longest serving university president, speaks at Grantmakers for Education's 2010 conference, "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Fulfilling the Promise of Excellence and Equity."

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, April 3)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Fresno Pacific (9) 12-4 250 1
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (1) 15-3 242 2
3 Point Loma Nazarene 12-1 233 3
4 Auburn Montgomery 17-5 227 4
5-tie Oklahoma Christian 10-2 214 6
5-tie Azusa Pacific 15-3 214 5
7 Concordia (Calif.) 10-5 196 tie-8
8 Brenau 5-5 194 7
9 SCAD Savannah 9-1 192 tie-8
10 Vanguard 8-6 174 10
11 Shorter 8-0 173 11
12 Southern Nazarene 7-4 161 12
13 William Carey 8-5 156 13
14 Olivet Nazarene 13-1 142 NR
15 Oklahoma Baptist 7-5 137 15
16 Lee (Tenn.) 7-3 124 18
17 Indiana Wesleyan 17-1 116 14
18 St. Thomas (Fla.) 9-7 111 17
19 Lewis-Clark State 5-11 102 19
20 Martin Methodist 7-4 96 22
21 Campbellsville 8-4 95 RV
22 William Jewell 11-6 90 20
23 Cumberlands 6-8 72 RV
24 Webber International 12-5 68 21
25 Belhaven 12-2 57 24

Others receiving votes: Lindsey Wilson 54, Westmont 45, Indiana Southeast 23, Xavier 16, Northwestern Ohio 8, Taylor 7, Georgetown (Ky.) 5, McKendree 3, Spring Hill 3, Mobile 1, Northwood (Fla.) 1, Robert Morris (Chicago) 1, The Master's (Calif.) 1, Marian (Ind.) 1, Milligan 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Xavier University of Louisiana: 4,500-seat Convocation Academic Center to replace The Barn for 2012-13

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Thursday that a 4,500-seat Convocation Academic Center will be constructed across Washington Avenue and near the main campus on a site bounded by Short, Palm and Stroelitz streets.

Test pilings were driven into the site earlier this year. Construction is expected to begin in May, with anticipated completion in late summer 2012.

The facility will include a 4,500-seat arena suitable for athletic and other large-scale events. It will become the home of Xavier men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball and replace The Barn, a 1,300-seat gymnasium opened in 1937.

"This new arena will be a tremendous addition for Xavier athletics," XU Athletics Director Dennis Cousin said. "It will upgrade our already excellent programs and take them a notch higher. It will be a big boost to us in recruiting."

The Convocation Academic Center also will contain classrooms, offices and meeting spaces. A regulation-size auxiliary basketball court also will be included to add flexibility in scheduling practices for the basketball and volleyball teams.

Manning Architects' rendering of Xavier's Convocation Academic Center, which is expected to be completed in late summer 2012.

"This is an exciting time for Xavier," women's basketball coach Bo Browder said. "We've been blessed with a lot of fun, a lot of success and a lot of great memories in The Barn. But I'm looking forward to this new arena and creating some new memories."

A pedestrian bridge will be constructed across Washington Avenue to help the Xavier community better access the new building. And for Xavier athletics, the progress does not stop there.

"There also are plans to construct tennis courts in the near future not far from the Convocation Academic Center," Cousin said. "This will give our nationally ranked tennis teams the ability to not only practice on campus but to also host dual matches, something we haven't done in decades."

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Gold Rush & Gold Nuggets

XU Gold Nuggets Warren does honorable thing, and she's still seeking votes

Christina Warren
NAIA Division I All American
Honorable Mention

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana extended its streak with Wednesday's announcement of the 2010-11 NAIA Division I Women's Basketball All-America Team. Christina Warren is the third Gold Nugget to earn honorable mention during the last five seasons.

Warren — a 5-foot-9 senior forward/guard from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., and a graduate of Los Osos High School and Chaffey College — led the Gold Nuggets with 11.9 points per game and 41 made 3-pointers this season. She was the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a three-time GCAC Player of the Week. Xavier was 27-7 this season, won the GCAC Tournament for the second straight season and reached the second round of the NAIA Division I National Championship.

Jarryn Cleaves earned All-America honorable mention for Xavier in 2006-07 and 2007-08, and Brittany Powell did the same in 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Warren was one of four from the GCAC to receive honorable mention. The others were Dillard's Jazzmin Smith, SUNO's Christine Conners and Tougaloo's Victoria Jones.

Warren is a nominee in the Heritage Sports Radio Network National Player of the Year fan poll for Division II women. Fans can visit www.hsrn.com, then scroll down to the left and vote for Warren before 2 p.m. CDT on March 30.

Xavier Gold Nuggets NAIA All-Americans

First Team
1986-87 — Demetria Lang (WBCA/Kodak team)
1988-89 — Henrietta Mitchell (WBCA/Kodak team)
1989-90 — Henrietta Mitchell (WBCA/Kodak team)
1997-98 — Cassee Davis

Second Team
1980-81 — Gwendolyn Brule
2003-04 — Jackie Tucker
Third Team
1995-96 — Cassee Davis

Honorable Mention
1981-82 — Gwendolyn Brule
2001-02 — Alisheian Graham
2006-07 — Jarryn Cleaves
2007-08 — Jarryn Cleaves
2008-09 — Brittany Powell
2009-10 — Brittany Powell
2010-11 — Christina Warren

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics

Andrew is honorable mention on NAIA All-America team

NAIA All American Honorable Mention
Devin Andrew

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Devin Andrew received honorable mention Wednesday on the 2010-11 NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball All-America Team.

Andrew — a 6-foot-4 senior guard from Harvey, La., a graduate of Vandebilt Catholic High School in Houma and a former student at Karr High School in New Orleans — led the Gold Rush this season with 10.9 points per game, 1.2 steals per game and 111 free throws in 147 attempts. He won two January home games with points in the final two seconds.

He helped the Gold Rush finish 27-6 this season — the most victories by an XU men's team since 1983-84 — finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament and earn an at-large bid to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. Andrew
scored 946 points and made 77.3 percent of his free throws in 113 games during four seasons.

Andrew was one of four from the GCAC to be honored. Tougaloo's Marquise Mems made the first team, and SUNO's Brent Leduff and Tougaloo's Mario Luckett received honorable mention.

Xavier Gold Rush NAIA All-Americans
First Team
1972-73 — Bruce Seals

Third Team
1981-82 — Alvin "Bo" Dukes
2006-07 — Shaun Dumas
2008-09 — Shaun Dumas
Honorable Mention
1971-72 — Bruce Seals
1971-72 — Don "Slick" Watts
1985-86 — Derrick Collins
1987-88 — Juan Mercier
1990-91 — Merlin Peters
2000-01 — David Egans, Kermit Smith
2004-05 — Timothy Green
2007-08 — Shaun Dumas
2010-11 — Devin Andrew

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics

XU Nuggets exit top 25, then lose to first-year NAIA program

NEW ORLEANS — It was a double whammy Tuesday for the Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis team. First the Gold Nuggets dropped out of the NAIA top 25 for the first time since February 2004. Then they lost their ninth consecutive dual match — 9-0 to SCAD Atlanta at the University of New Orleans Tennis Center.

The Gold Nuggets (2-11) had appeared in 44 consecutive top 25s dating to Feb. 25, 2004, but missed by 10 points this time and fell to 27th overall.

SCAD Atlanta (8-2) — an NAIA independent in its first year of intercollegiate sports but ineligible for rankings or the postseason until 2011-12 — dropped only one set in winning its fifth dual in a row. The closest match was at No. 3 singles, where Christina Swindall defeated XU's Nicole DeLoach 2-6, 7-6 (7-2), 1-0 (10-4).

Once again, because of only five available players, Xavier was forced to default at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. The good news was that senior Ashley McGill returned to action for the first time in six duals after completing her basketball eligibility Friday.

Xavier's women and men will return to the courts Friday in a 3:30 p.m. makeup match against city rival Loyola at City Park Tennis Center.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics

Xavier Gold Rush remain eighth in the national rankings

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana maintained its program-record No. 8 position in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. It's the first time an XU tennis team has been in consecutive top 10s.

The Gold Rush (10-5) have appeared in 28 consecutive top 25s dating to April 4, 2007, and it's the 19th straight time dating to April 30, 2008, that the Gold Rush are among the top 18. This is the second XU men's team of 2010-11 to make the top 10 in consecutive polls — the basketball team did it in December.

XU's men will play four times before the next poll on April 5, including three duals in as many days beginning Friday. The Gold Rush will play Loyola at 3:30 p.m. Friday and third-ranked Auburn Montgomery at 4 p.m. Saturday — both at City Park Tennis Center — and visit NCAA Division I New Orleans at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Fresno Pacific is No. 1 for the 11th consecutive poll. Embry-Riddle (Fla.) replaced Auburn Montgomery at No. 2 after defeating the Senators 7-2 on March 14. AUM is the defending NAIA champion and winner of four of the last five championships.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sunday, March 20)
Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Fresno Pacific (9) 12-2 219 1
2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 7-5 207 3
3 Auburn Montgomery 13-2 203 2
4 Azusa Pacific 10-3 199 4
5 Oklahoma Christian 11-1 197 5
6 Point Loma Nazarene 8-2 184 6
7 Westmont 5-4 177 7
8 Xavier 10-5 169 8
9 Concordia (Calif.) 4-8 164 9
10 Union (Ky.) 10-4 156 11
11 Graceland 3-4 145 10
12 Vanguard 4-9 142 13
13 Shorter 6-1 139 12
14 St. Thomas (Fla.) 8-2 127 14
15 Lewis-Clark State 7-7 122 15
16 Aquinas 13-2 104 19
17 Webber International 12-3 100 18
18 Cumberland 3-1 95 RV
19 Olivet Nazarene 10-0 85 21
20-tie McKendree 5-1 84 20
20-tie Campbellsville 6-4 84 RV
22 Lee (Tenn.) 1-4 69 22
23 Tennessee Wesleyan 3-2 66 16
24 Martin Methodist 4-4 62 17
25 SCAD Savannah 3-3 57 24

Others receiving votes: William Carey 42, Oklahoma Baptist 36, Lindsey Wilson 36, Huntington (Ind.) 17, Bethany (Kan.) 17, Northwood (Fla.) 8, Biola 5, Northwestern Ohio 4, Bethel (Tenn.) 1, Belhaven 1.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XU Athletics

XU Gold Rush's Kenner is a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Jamaan Kenner is a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete in men's basketball.

Kenner — a junior guard from LaPlace, La., and a graduate of East St. John High School — was one of 59 to receive that honor Monday. NAIA athletes qualify for the award with minimums of junior academic status and a cumulative 3.5 grade-point average. Kenner is a senior academically and a biology/pre-medical major with a 3.59 GPA.

Jamaan Kenner
2011 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete

He helped the Gold Rush finish 27-6 this season — the most victories by an XU men's team since 1983-84 — finish second in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament and earn an at-large bid to the Buffalo Funds-NAIA Division I National Championship. Kenner averaged 4.7 points and 1.8 rebounds in 32 games with 16 starts. He made 28-of-89 3-pointers and hit a season-high four treys against Concordia (Ala.) on Jan. 6. Kenner was the GCAC Player of the Week for Dec. 6-12.

"Jamaan Kenner is an outstanding representative of Xavier University and the men's basketball program," eighth-year head coach Dannton Jackson said. "He works diligently in the classroom and on the court."

Kenner was the lone men's or women's basketball player from the GCAC to be named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete this season.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics

Abbas, DeLoach selected GCAC Players of the Week

Melissa DeLoach
Fort Washington, MD

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Hassan Abbas and Melissa DeLoach swept the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week tennis awards for March 7-13.

Abbas, a senior from Saltaire, England, and a graduate of Bingley Grammar School and Ventura College, was 3-2 in singles and 3-2 in doubles. Abbas defeated ITA No. 33 Bryan Cox of Westmont 6-4, 7-5 in singles, and he won in singles and doubles in Xavier's 5-4 victory against William Carey at the AUM Invitational.

DeLoach, a senior from Fort Washington, Md., and a graduate of Bishop McNamara High School, won her second GCAC award of 2011 after going 2-0 in singles and 2-1 in doubles at the AUM Invitational.

The next Xavier women's match will start at 3 p.m. Tuesday against SCAD Atlanta at the University of New Orleans, and both Xavier teams will play city rival Loyola in makeup duals at 3:30 p.m. Friday at UNO.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
Xavier University of Louisiana
Visit: XULA Athletics