Tennis teams open fall schedules in Region XIII tourney
September 17, 2008

Schedules:  Men    Women

     NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana men's and women's tennis teams will travel to Montgomery, Ala., for the ITA/NAIA Region XIII Championships on Friday and Saturday. The tournament is the first of two fall events on their 2008-09 schedules.
     Xavier's other fall event is the HBCU National Championships on Sept. 25-28 at Atlanta, Ga. Alan Green, beginning his sixth season as coach of the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets, said he is considering two more fall events hosted by NCAA Division I opponents.
     Xavier returns 12 letterwinners, seven female. Among the standouts returning are the Nuggets' Anastesia Opata — a first-team NAIA All-American and the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference and Louisiana Newcomer of the Year this past season — and three Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars: Alexandra Broussard (women's first team), Terry Richardson (men's first team) and Cameron Knowles (men's second team).
     This week's tournament is single-flighted and will consist of players from the GCAC and Southern States Athletic Conference. Region XIII had five men's teams (Xavier, Auburn Montgomery, Berry, Lee, Shorter) and six women's teams (Xavier, Auburn Montgomery, Berry, Brenau, Lee, Mobile, Shorter) in the final 2008 coaches top 25. Auburn Montgomery is seeking its sixth consecutive women's NAIA national championship and its fourth consecutive men's title.
     Xavier's women were 17-8 this past season and No. 13 in the final poll. It was the fourth consecutive Nuggets team to be ranked in the final top 25. For the third time in four seasons the Nuggets earned an at-large bid to the NAIA National Championships and won a first-round match. Xavier had four victories against NCAA Division I opponents, including SWAC Tournament champion Alcorn State.
     Xavier's men were 15-9, No. 17 in the final poll and won the GCAC Tournament for the third time in four years. Miroslav Vukicevic became the first NAIA All-American of the modern era of Xavier men's tennis. Xavier had four victories against NCAA Division I opponents, including SWAC Eastern Division champion Jackson State.
     Xavier will play dual matches beginning in January. That part of the scheduling is not complete.