Posted: Jan 25, 2017

Gold Nuggets begin spring semester 19th nationally

NEW ORLEANS (XULAGold.com) — Xavier University of Louisiana is 19th in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll announced Tuesday. It's the Gold Nuggets' same position as in the 2016 postseason rankings.

The top-25 ranking is the 40th in a row for the XULA women and their 85th in the last 95 polls dating to Feb. 25, 2004.

XULA, 8-14 a year ago, will play its first dual match of the spring semester at noon Sunday against city rival Loyola at XULA Tennis Center. The Gold Nuggets' first duals against ranked teams will be Feb. 17 against No. 11 Keiser and No. 24 Cumberlands in the Grizzly Invitational at Lawrenceville, Ga.

Defending champion Georgia Gwinnett received all 13 first-place votes.

The next top 25 will be announced Feb. 14.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records from previous season)

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Last
1	Georgia Gwinnett (13)	18-2	343	1
2	Lindsey Wilson	21-5	332	2
3	SCAD Savannah	18-2	321	4
4	Brenau	17-7	310	5
5	Cardinal Stritch	19-2	297	6
6	William Woods	19-3	289	7
7	Indiana Wesleyan	33-7	276	8
8	Middle Georgia	15-8	263	10
9	Davenport	25-6	244	11
10	Northwestern Ohio	14-10	230	13
11	Keiser	11-9	224	17
12	William Carey	12-12	223	12
13	Arizona Christian	17-5	209	18
14	LSU-Alexandria	12-7	202	14
15	Olivet Nazarene	13-10	201	15
16	Mobile	12-7	171	16
17	Cumberland	12-9	165	20
18	San Diego Christian	4-9	150	RV
19	Xavier	8-14	147	19
20	McPherson	13-5	122	22
21	Westmont	10-8	119	9
22	St. Thomas (Fla.)	8-8	107	23
23	Reinhardt	12-5	102	24
24	Cumberlands	12-10	80	NR
25	Marian (Ind.)	14-8	73	RV
Dropped from rankings: No. 3 Auburn Montgomery, No. 21 Lewis-Clark State, No. 25 Georgetown (Ky.) Others receiving votes: Lewis-Clark State 66, Missouri Valley 64, Georgetown (Ky.) 43, Milligan 27, Southeastern (Fla.) 18, Southwestern (Kan.) 12, Morningside 12, Asbury 12, Texas Wesleyan 11, SCAD Atlanta 9, Campbellsville 5, Huntington 3, Dalton State 3