Xavier men, women win at Alcorn State
April 6, 2008

Results: Men    Women

LORMAN, Miss. — Xavier University of Louisiana defeated Alcorn State in men's and women's tennis matches Sunday. The Gold Rush won 7-0, and the Gold Nuggets won 5-2.

Xavier's men, 11-8 and ranked 24th in the NAIA, won all three doubles matches to score their first point, and Cameron Knowles clinched the team decision with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over German Castillo Contreras at No. 6 singles.

Xavier's women, 13-5 and ranked 14th, clinched their fifth consecutive victory and their 11th in 12 duals when Yuliem Dominguez beat Katherine Hoepelman 5-7, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 3 singles.

The Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets have three victories apiece this season against NCAA Division I members. Alcorn State's men are 8-11, and the women are 9-11. The Lady Braves entered with a four-match win streak.

"It was one of the best efforts of the season for our men and women," Xavier coach Alan Green said. "The men's team looked really focused, and the women fought hard.

"The women's match wasn't as easy as it looked on paper. Alcorn's women are pretty tough. We had to fight at the top of the lineup to get points, and we had to win the doubles point. That was a key to getting some momentum."

Both Xavier teams are defending champions, seeded first and owners of first-round byes in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Jackson, Miss. They'll play Belhaven or Tougaloo in the semifinals Friday. Except for the 2006 season, when Xavier did not compete in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Xavier's women have won five consecutive GCAC championships, and the men have won two in a row.