The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbsWtribunemedia.net

JACOBI Bain played a pivotal role for the No.10 ranked Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush men’s tennis team as they pulled off another big win, this time with a 4-1 triumph over the No.7 ranked William Carey on Monday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

In their third win in 11 days against a top-15 opponent and the second during that time against a top-7 team, Bain and Santiago Perez secured a 6-1 decision over Tm Fischer and Tom Tillger, while Bain prevailed with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 comeback victory over Lachlan Vickery.

“I played really good in doubles and in singles, I played a better second and third set,” Bain said. “In the first set, the guy wasn’t missing, but as I got back into my groove in the second set, I just dominated from there.”

Bain, an 18-year-old 6-foot, 1-inch, 190-pound freshman, noted that it was a big win for the Gold Rush.

“Everyone is playing really well,” Bain said. “We leave on Wednesday (today) to play against another top ranked team. We just want to go out and do our best. For me, I just hope to play my best as well and help the team win again.”

The Gold Rush are 6-3 and Bain said all of their losses have come from top-ranked teams, so he’s quite pleased with how the team is performing.

So is head coach Alan Green, who likes what he’s seen from his team so far.

“Our guys were in a nationals-type battle out there,” Green said of the Gold Rush’s performance on Monday.

“The atmosphere was hectic and loud. But our guys stepped up and played like some grown men. I’m proud of them for that.”

The Gold Rush is slated to be back in action from Thursday to Sunday when they compete in the GGC Spring Invitational in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Hopefully when they’re done, they will be able to move up the ladder in the team rankings.