Ragin' Cajuns Host Xavier (La.) In 2018 Home Opener

LAFAYETTE – It's been a busy two weekends on the road for the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns men's tennis team, but they finally open up Cajun Courts for the 2018 season when they welcome to Lafayette, the Xavier (La.) Gold Rush (ranked No. 2 in the NAIA) on Friday night for a doubleheader under the lights starting at 5 p.m. with the second match scheduled for 7 p.m.

CAJUNS HAVE BEEN BUSY: Louisiana, who's season record sits at 2-4, has already had a busy week, playing two matches starting on Sunday, Jan. 21, when they took down the defending C-USA Champion Rice Owls, 4-2.

In that match the Cajuns looked strong against a Rice team that finished the 2017 season ranked No. 44 in the nation, and they got singles wins from freshman Pierce Gilheany, senior Vlad Kramarov and a clinching win from sophomore Pearse Dolan.

The Cajuns also took the doubles point from Rice, getting wins from Gilheany and Dolan, with the clinching win coming from the Cajuns duo of junior Arthur Libaud and sophomore Jamie Fraser.

Louisiana carried that momentum into a Tuesday evening matchup on Jan. 23 in Baton Rouge, La., against LSU. Although the Cajuns lost to the Tigers, 4-2, they were again strong taking the SEC school to the wire, and again they got wins in singles from Gilheany and Kramarov.

GILHEANY HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE: The young Australian has impressed both in doubles and singles carrying a 6-0 overall record into the Cajuns home opener. Gilheany, has gone 3-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles, all of his doubles match's he's been paired with Dolan making them a force through the first two weeks of the season.

Gilheany's singles wins have come against Mercer, Rice and LSU and his doubles wins have come against the same three schools. In fact, so far this season he hasn't lost a set in either doubles or singles winning all his matches in straight set fashion.

WHAT XAVIER (La.) BRINGS: For the 11th straight season, the Gold Rush enter the season ranked No. 2 in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Poll. This is their 87th consecutive appearance in the NAIA Coaches' Poll and they've finished as the national runners-up for the past two seasons.

Xavier (La.), who finished the 2017 season with a 14-6 record, enters the match with the Cajuns, sitting at 0-1 after losing at South Alabama on Saturday, Jan. 20, 6-1, in Mobile, Ala. For Xavier (La.) Pierre Andrieu snagged the Gold Rush's lone win in that match, a straight set 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 5.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE MATCH: Live stats will be provided for both the 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. matches via RaginCajuns.com.

FOLLOWING THE RAGIN' CAJUNS: Follow the Cajuns on twitter @RaginCajunsMT for updates during the match, links to live stats and the recap following both matches.

#GEAUXCAJUNS

Ragin' Cajuns Host Xavier (La.) In 2018 Home Opener

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Players Mentioned

Pearse Dolan

Jamie Fraser

Pierce Gilheany

Vlad Kramarov

Arthur Libaud

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