The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

JACOBI Bain and his Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush men’s tennis team have advanced to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championships.

Bain and Xavier University clinched a berth at nationals by winning the American Midwest Conference/Heart of America/ Sooner unaffiliated tournament on Saturday with a 4-0 decision over 15th-ranked William Woods (13-11).

The performance came after the Xavier University won twice. The Gold Rush, 18-5 and seeded first, defeated eighth-seeded Our Lady of the Lake 4-0 in the quarterfinals and fourth-seeded Missouri Valley 4-0 in the semifinals.

Both finalists are assured of berths in the 24-team national bracket because the NAIA awards two automatic bids to leagues or unaffiliated groups with 12-or-more members. This tournament — composed of teams from the Red River, Heart of America, American Midwest and Sooner conferences — has 13 teams.

“The performance was pretty good. We played pretty good overall,” Bain said. “Our number one guy got injured, so it was good for us to do it for him. But we have a great team. We just pick everybody up, especially when they are down.”

The southpaw Bain teamed up with Megh Pagtel, who lost their doubles match 6-1 on Saturday to Vaclav Schneider and Vitek Subert.

In Friday’s win that clinched their berth in the final, Bain and Megh Pagtel won their doubles match 7-5, 6-1 over Luca Link.

“I think my performance was pretty good. I struggled a bit in doubles, but I was able to pick it up in singles, so it was pretty good,” Bain said.

Bain and the Gold Rush will now prepare for the NAIA Nationals that will run from May 17-21 in Mobile, Alabama.

“We just want to do the best we can and play some team ball,” Bain said. “If this is any indication, this the year that we should take it. This is our strongest team ever. “Our number one guy on our team is ranked at number one in the nation, the number two guy is top 20 and the number three guy is top 30, so if there’s any time for us to take it, this is the year to do.”

As for the 6-1, 190- pound Bain, if he can continue to be even more aggressive so he can by called upon to play singles to improve on his overall game, he feels he will be an effective player.

“I just need to put a little more focus on my serve, my volley so that I can be ready for nationals.” Bain stated.

Bain, however, has to concentrate on their final day of classes before they prepare for their final exams, starting on Wednesday.

“Everything is going good,” said Bain, a business management major.

Bain, now a full blown senior player having turned 19 on April 11, is the son of tennis coaches Marion and Bradley Bain.