Xavier tennis teams advance to NAIA quarterfinals

MOBILE, Ala. — The men and women of Xavier University of Louisiana scored 5-0 victories Wednesday against Kentucky opponents in the round of 16 at the NAIA Tennis National Championships.

The Gold Rush defeated ninth-ranked and 10th-seeded Union in the morning, then the Gold Nuggets beat 22nd-ranked and 19th-seeded Cumberlands during the afternoon.

In the quarterfinals Thursday, the XULA men (15-8) will play second-ranked and second-seeded Reinahrdt (17-2) at 9 a.m., and the women (18-5) will play sixth-ranked and sixth-seeded William Woods (16-6) at 1 p.m. Admission is free for all rounds at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center.

Shaikh Abdullah and Santiago Perez won in doubles and singles to help the Gold Rush advance to the quarterfinals for the eighth consecutive year. Farah Baklouti won in doubles and singles for the Gold Nuggets. Baklouti and Mariia Borodii defeated Grace Steely and Tessa Gray 8-4 on the second court to improve to 20-0 this season as a doubles team.

Abdullah clinched for the Gold Rush with a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Simon Campos. Yi Chen Pao beat Gray 6-2, 6-1 to clinch for the Nuggets, who are 12-1 this season against top-25 opponents.

Both XULA quarterfinals will be rematches. Reinhardt, playing at home, defeated the Rush 5-4 March 29. One week earlier, the XULA women won 5-0 at home against William Woods.