Rush, Nuggets extend GCAC win streaks
March 20, 2008

Men's results vs. Mobile and Spring Hill
Women's results vs. Mobile and Spring Hill

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis team defeated Mobile 5-3 and Spring Hill 5-0 on Thursday for its 43rd and 44th consecutive victories in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season matches.

The Gold Nuggets (11-5 overall, 7-0 GCAC) clinched the No. 1 seeding for the conference tournament April 11-12 at Jackson, Miss.

Xavier's men (9-8, 7-0) defeated Mobile 9-0 and Spring Hill 7-0 and have a 28-match winning streak in GCAC regular-season competition.

Both Xavier teams are ranked 24th in the NAIA.

Dominique Bell clinched the Gold Nuggets' victory against Mobile with a 7-6, 6-1 decision at No. 1 singles over Josy Soares. Bell trailed 5-2 in the first set and held serve in the 10th game after trailing love-40. Against Spring Hill the Nuggets dropped just one set — in an unfinished singles match — after struggling to beat the Lady Badgers 5-4 six days earlier.

The Gold Rush lost one set in their two dual matches and gave Mobile its first conference loss of the season.

"We played very well against Mobile and overcame everything they threw at us," Xavier coach Alan Green said. "Our women played much, much better against Spring Hill than we did a week ago. We got a wakeup call last week and came out fired up and ready to make up for a subpar showing."

The Gold Nuggets haven't lost a GCAC regular-season match since dropping a 5-4 home decision to Spring Hill on April 13, 2002. The Gold Rush's streak began after an 8-1 loss at Spring Hill on Feb. 7, 2004.

Xavier's next match will be its home finale. The Rush and Nuggets will play Mobile at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 at UNO Wow Café Tennis Center.