Nicholls tennis sweep leads to Gold Nuggets' first loss
For immediate release . . . March 3, 2007

THIBODAUX, La. — The Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis team suffered its first dual-match loss of the season when Nicholls State defeated the NAIA No. 12 Gold Nuggets 7-0 Saturday.

Nicholls also defeated Xavier's men 6-1.

The Lady Colonels won all three doubles matches 8-2 and lost only one singles set. Xavier's Dominique Bell lost 7-5, 7-5 to Celine Stenger at No. 1, and Angelina Callis lost 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Adeline Vallet at No. 3.

The Gold Nuggets are 6-1.

Miroslav Vukicevic won twice for Xavier's men (5-3) and scored the Gold Rush's only point when he defeated Phenyo Matong 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) at No. 3 singles. The Nos. 4-6 singles matches all went the maximum three sets, with Xavier's Cameron Knowles and Vusumzi Kempele winning their opening sets before losing.

"That men's match could've gone either way," Xavier Coach Alan Green said. "Nicholls just had a little more than we had in those third sets. Overall our men played pretty well."

Both Xavier teams will depart Thursday morning for three matches in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets will play Webber International at 1 p.m. Friday, Embry-Riddle at 10 a.m. Saturday and Berry at 10 a.m. Sunday. All times are Eastern Standard. Five of those six opponents are ranked in the NAIA top 25 — the men's rankings list Embry-Riddle fourth, Berry 10th and Webber International 25th, and Berry and Embry-Riddle are ranked 10-11 in the women's poll.

"Even though we lost to Nicholls, I thought we got a boost of confidence going into those big matches next weekend." Green said.

Results:
Women
Nicholls State 7, Xavier 0
At Thibodaux, La.
Singles
No. 1 — Celine Stenger (NSU) d. Dominique Bell (XU) 7-5, 7-5.
No. 2 — Sara Hanecsh (NSU) d. Yuliem Dominguez (XU) 6-0, 6-1.
No. 3 — Adeline Vallet (NSU) d. Angelina Callis (XU) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
No. 4 — Sanja Stanojcic (NSU) d. Colleen McArthur (XU) 6-2, 6-0.
No. 5 — Karlijn Sissingh (NSU) d. Jihanna Mughnee (XU) 6-3, 6-4.
No. 6 — Nichole September (NSU) d. Alexandra Broussard (XU) 6-3, 6-2.

Doubles
No. 1 — Celine Stenger-Karlijn Sissingh (NSU) d. Angelina Callis-Yuliem Dominguez (XU) 8-2.
No. 2 — Adeline Vallet-Sara Hanecsh (NSU) d. Dominique Bell-Colleen McArthur (XU) 8-2.
No. 3 — Sanja Stanojcic-Nichole September (NSU) d. Jihanna Mughnee-Alexandra Broussard (XU) 8-2.

Records: Xavier 6-1, Nicholls State 2-3.

Men
Nicholls State 6, Xavier 1
At Thibodaux, La.
Singles
No. 1 — Vlad-Lucian Popa (NSU) d. Terry Richardson (XU) 6-3, 6-4.
No. 2 — Eric Fisher (NSU) d. Mario Myles (XU) 6-1, 6-2.
No. 3 — Miroslav Vukicevic (XU) d. Phenyo Matong (NSU) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
No. 4 — Sami Mouline (NSU) d. Cameron Knowles 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.
No. 5 — Alec Gasca-Silav (NSU) d. Vusumzi Kempele (XU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.
No. 6 — Maxine Bouhoulle (NSU) d. Thomas Fugate (XU) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3.

Doubles
No. 1 — Vlad-Lucian Popa-Eric Fisher (NSU) d. Mario Myles-Terry Richardson (XU) 8-2.
No. 2 — Cameron Knowles-Miroslav Vukicevic (XU) d. Ricardo Van Bolderick-Phenyo Matong (NSU) d. 8-6.
No. 3 — Alec Gasca-Silav-Maxine Bouhoulle (NSU) d. Vusumzi Kempele-Thomas Fugate (XU) 8-2.

Records: Xavier 5-3, Nicholls State 2-5.