NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's women won the doubles point, then the University of New Orleans won 4-of-6 singles matches to rally for a 4-3 victory Saturday at UNO's University Tennis Center.
The XULA women and men will play another city rival, Loyola, at noon Sunday at XULA Tennis Center. It will be the Gold Rush home opener and the Gold Nuggets' second home dual this year.
Angela Charles-Alfred won in doubles and singles for XULA. Charles-Alfred and Yi Chen Pao defeated Lea Alguaci and Ank Vullings 6-3, then Charles-Alfred beat Claudette Gilhespie 6-3, 6-2 on the third singles court.
Mariia Borodii and Farah Baklouti clinched the doubles point when they defeated Trang Dao and Mar Gendra 6-3 on the first court.
XULA (1-2) led 2-1 after Charles-Alfred's singles victory, then made it 3-2 when Charlene Goreau defeated Vullings 6-2, 6-4. But the Privateers (4-0) rallied when Gendra defeated Angelica De Vincenzis 6-3, 7-6 (7-1) on the fifth court, then Dao won 6-4, 7-5 on the first court against Borodii. It was Borodii's first singles loss in a collegiate dual match. Borodii began the day 17-0.
"We got off to a good start in doubles but things settled down after that," XULA coach Alan Green said. "We need our entire lineup to play well in order for us to win because they all feed off each other. Today just wasn't our day."
It was the XULA debut of De Vincenzis, a sophomore from Montebelluna, Italy, and a transfer from Tusculum, where she was 14-3 in singles last year for a team that qualified for the NCAA Division II postseason tournament.
The Gold Nuggets are 0-13 all-time against UNO, an NCAA Division I member.
Both XULA teams are ranked third in the NAIA. Loyola's women are 21st in the NAIA, and the Wolf Pack men are among "others receiving votes" at 28th place. Earlier Saturday UNO defeated Loyola's women 7-0 and Loyola's men 6-1. The XULA men will visit UNO at 4 p.m. Feb. 22.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications
Department of Athletics & Recreation
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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