The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN collegiate tennis player Jacobi Bain feels that his No.10 ranked Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush men’s team have a legitimate chance of being one of the best teams in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics this year.

Bain and the Gold Rush kicked off their spring-semester schedule on Saturday with a 4-3 exhibition victory against Tyler Junior College, then a 4-0 loss to NCAA Division I Louisiana-Lafayette.

In their match against Tyler, who were 13-0 and the 2021 National Junior College Athletic Association champions, Bain won his singles match against Mika Fisher in straight sets, 7-6 (18-16) and 6-1. But he and his doubles partner Juan Ramirez lost 6-3 to Jakob Moswold and Diego Dalisay. And against the Ragin’ Cajuns, Bain lost 6-0, 6-2 to Vasil Dimilirov.

In doubles, Bain and Juan Ramirez lost 7-6 (7-5) to Karlo Kajin and Alejandro Sanchez Gonzalez.

Despite splitting their pair of matches, Bain said he was pleased with the outcome, considering the fact that they played the two teams with just about a hour and-a-half break in between. “We were pretty tired,” he noted. “It was good for us to get in those matches because it really gave us a good indication of where we are as a team heading into the season.”

Today, the Gold Rush are scheduled to face their city rival Dillard, which is playing tennis for the first time since 2005, in a match that starts around 3pm. It will be a real test to set the stage for the remainder of the season.

“I’m looking forward to playing my best tennis,” Bain said. “We’re hoping to make it to our conference finals and then go on and play in the national championships. So I’m looking forward to playing my best tennis to help our team achieve those goals.”

Compared to last year’s team when he came in as a freshman, Bain said he’s expected to be relied upon as the player that will bring the heat for the Gold Rush in the departure of their top player, who graduated.

“I like the challenge. I like new challenges, so this should really help me to play a whole lot better this year,” said Bain, who plays at No.1 in doubles and No.4 in singles on the Gold Rush team.

“I just hope to be able to improve every match we play. I feel pretty good where I’m at on the team. I just want to be able to enjoy tennis and do my best. Hopefully, I can help the team to be one of the best teams in the league this year.”

At this point in the season, Bain said if he can improve on his forehand and volleys, he should be a force to reckon with for the Gold Rush because every other aspect of his game is intact.

“I just want to be ready to bring the team, for the team when my opportunity comes,” said the 6-foot, 1-inch, 190-pound 18-year-old Bain, who plays as a southpaw.

Although there is still some concern about COVID-19, Bain said they have been able to weather the storm without any of their players contracting the virus.

He noted that they are all taking the safety measures seriously and doing everything they can to ensure that their season is not interrupted.

“We have a long season ahead of us,” said Bain, whose Gold Rush season will run until May 21 when the NAIA National Championship Tournament is concluded in Mobile, Alabama. “We feel we have a team that can go all the way. We have three senior guys, who are playing extremely well and so we’re doing our very best. My partner and I in doubles are also hoping to hold up our end of the bargain.”

In addition to tennis, Bain is also concentrating on his studies as a business management major.

“School is coming along fine. I’m learning a lot of new stuff and getting adjusted to it,” he said. “But my ultimate goal is to do just as well in the classroom as I do on the court.”

So far, he’s been able to manage both very well.