Xavier among leaders in several NAIA rankings
December 1, 2008

     NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana was mentioned in a variety of NAIA sports rankings released Monday.
     Shaun Dumas, a senior from New Orleans and St. Augustine High School, is first in Division I men's basketball with 3.83 steals per game.
     Xavier's women's basketball team, thanks to its 5-1 start, climbed one spot to 18th in the NAIA Division I coaches poll. The Gold Nuggets will visit Wiley (3-6) for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday at Marshall, Texas.
     Johnna Williams, a sophomore from Prairieville, La., and Dutchtown High School, is No. 2 in Division I women's basketball with 3.33 blocked shots per game.
     Anastesia Opata, a junior from Lawrenceville, Ga., and Central Gwinnett High School, is 22nd in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's preseason NAIA women's singles rankings. Opata, 15-4 in singles and 18-5 in doubles this past spring, holds the same spot she had in the final 2007-08 ranking.
     Xavier's 6-2 men's basketball team did not make the NAIA Division I coaches top 25 but collected 21 points to tie for 28th among all schools receiving votes. The Gold Rush, 14th in this past week's Victory Sports Network top 25, dropped out of that list.