Xavier men return to NAIA tennis top 25
For immediate release . . . April 4, 2007

NEW ORLEANS — Two victories against ranked opponents have moved the Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis team into the NAIA top 25 for the first time since February.

The Gold Rush (8-9) is No. 25 in the rankings released Wednesday. It's Xavier's highest men's ranking since being 25th in the preseason poll Feb. 7. The Rush improved its standing with neutral-site victories against then-No. 25 Oklahoma Christian on March 22 and then-No. 24 Oklahoma Baptist on Saturday. Both scores were 5-0.

Despite the loss to Xavier, Oklahoma Baptist climbed to 22nd in this week's poll. Oklahoma Christian, however, dropped out.

Xavier's Gold Nuggets (11-6) remained in the women's top 25 but dropped 10 spots to 21st after three consecutive losses, including to Brenau, No. 7 this week, and No. 18 Shorter.

Xavier is one of 20 schools whose men's and women's teams are in the top 25. Auburn-Montgomery is first in both polls.

Both Xavier teams will conclude the regular season April 12 at City Park Tennis Center with dual matches against Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opponents Belhaven at 10 a.m. and Tougaloo at 2 p.m. On April 13-14 the Rush and Nuggets will play host to the GCAC Tournament at City Park, then the NAIA Region XIII Tournament at the University of New Orleans on April 20-22.

The NAIA's next tennis rankings will be announced April 18.

NAIA Men's Tennis Top 25
1. Auburn-Montgomery
2. Azusa Pacific
3. Embry-Riddle
4. Fresno Pacific
5. Bethel (Tenn.)
6. Freed-Hardeman
7. Vanguard
8. Savannah Art & Design
9. Point Loma Nazarene
10. Lee (Tenn.)
11. Berry
12. Benedictine (Kan.)
13. Cumberland
14. Webber International
15. Lindsey Wilson
16. Union (Ky.)
17. Graceland 
18. Shorter
19. Northwood (Fla.)
20. Concordia (Calif.)
21. Lewis-Clark State
22. Oklahoma Baptist
23. Olivet Nazarene
24. Aquinas
25. Xavier

NAIA Women's Tennis Top 25
1. Auburn-Montgomery
2. Fresno Pacific
3. Freed-Hardeman
4. Vanguard
5. Azusa Pacific
6. Lindsey Wilson
7. Brenau
8. Berry
9. Savannah Art & Design
10. Embry-Riddle
11. Point Loma Nazarene
12. Southern Nazarene
13. Lee (Tenn.)
14. Indiana Wesleyan
15. Oklahoma Christian
16. Shorter
17. California Baptist
18. Olivet Nazarene
19. Lewis-Clark State
20. Cumberland
21. Xavier
22. Northwood (Fla.)
23. Bethel (Tenn.)
24. Concordia (Calif.)
25. Webber International