Saturday, June 30, 2018

Dillard Lady Bleu Devils Announces 2018 Volley Schedule

ORLEANS, Louisiana – Three regular-season tournaments, two 2017 NAIA Volleyball National Championship teams and a challenging Gulf Coast Athletic Conference slate, highlight a 33-match schedule for the Lady Bleu Devil volleyball team.

"With hard work and determination, we're looking forward to the start of the season," said head coach Nancy Sikobe.

In just her second season at the helm, Sikobe led Dillard to 21 wins and a berth in the 2017 GCAC Tournament championships match. The Lady Bleu Devils finished 21-19 overall and second in conference at 9-3.

News Photo

Lady Bleu Devils Will Host Season Opening Tournament Aug. 24-25

Dillard returns nine letterwinners and three starters, plus its libero, from the 2017 season. However, the Lady Bleu Devils lose GCAC Player and Attacker of the Year in Shelby Stewart to graduation.

Dillard will host the DU Volleyball Classic Aug. 24-25 to open the season for the second straight year. The Lady Bleu Devils face Jarvis Christian College and Talladega College Aug. 24 before another doubleheader against Huston-Tillotson University and Loyola University New Orleans Aug. 25.

Following the DU Volleyball Classic, the Lady Bleu Devils hit the road for 13 of their next 14 matches starting with a trip to Alabama to face Mobile Aug. 28. The Rams finished 38-4 last season en route to winning the Southern States Athletic Conference and earning a berth to the NAIA National Volleyball Championship.

"It's always good playing strong non-conference teams before the beginning of conference play to get the team ready," said Sikobe.

The Lady Bleu Devils head to Houston for the St. Thomas Invitational (Sept. 1-2), before returning home to face Wiley College (Sept. 3). After 10 non-conference matches, the Lady Bleu Devils open conference action at Southern University at New Orleans on Sept. 4. Dillard then travels to Jackson, Mississippi, for the Millsaps College Invitational (Sept. 7-8) for its third tournament of the regular season. The Lady Bleu Devils then visit Mississippi Valley State (Sept. 13) before resuming conference play.

A four-match conference road trip follows as Dillard takes on rival and 2017 GCAC Tournament champion Xavier University of Louisiana (Sept. 15), Tougaloo College (Sept. 17), Edward Waters College (Sept. 22), and Talladega College (Sept. 24).

The Lady Bleu Devils return to New Orleans for a five-match homestand beginning with Philander Smith College (Sept. 29), before a matchup with conference newcomer Rust College (Oct. 1). Dillard will then host Mobile (Oct. 4), Tougaloo (Oct. 6) and XULA (Oct. 8), before road match at Rust (Oct. 13).

Dillard then opens a three-match homestand against MVSU (Oct. 15), Talladega (Oct. 20) and Edward Waters (Oct. 22), before a showdown with Wiley (Oct. 26).

DU will begin a four-match road trip in Hawkins, Texas, against Jarvis Christian College and Dallas Christian College on Oct. 27. The Lady Bleu Devils closes out conference play at Philander Smith (Oct. 29) before playing at Loyola University New Orleans (Nov. 2). Dillard will close out the regular season on Senior Night against SUNO Nov. 3.

The GCAC Tournament takes place Nov. 9-10 with the location to be determined.

Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Lady Bleu Devils by following Dillard Athletics on Twitter at @GeauxDU, Facebook at Facebook.com/dillardbleudevils/ and Instagram at Instagram.com/dillardbleudevils/.

VOLLEYBALLRecord: 19-18 Home: 8-5 Away: 7-4 Neutral: 4-9 GCAC: 9-3
Team HomeScheduleRosterCoachesNewsPhotosAdditional Links

DILLARD UNIVERSITY BLEU DEVILS SPORTS INFORMATION

Maryland Eastern Shore Volleyball Adds Six in 2018 Recruiting Class

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland --Maryland Eastern Shore Interim Head Coach Trevor Callarman announced his first recruiting class on Tuesday, bringing six student-athletes to the Hawks. The new players include a Division I transfer, a JUCO transfer and four true freshmen.
“This recruiting class will continue the proud tradition of Hawk Volleyball and can definitely take us to the next level.” Callarman said. “The combination of experienced transfers and fresh, hungry talent is going to give us an energetic squad that will be exciting to watch.”
The addition of senior Carola Biver (San Juan, Puerto Rico) provides a veteran presence to an already mature team. Biver transfers to Princess Anne from Towson University, after registering more than 500 kills and 500 digs for the Tigers under former Hawks coach Don Metil. The Puerto Rican forms a talented trio of outside hitters with Lucia Babic (Sisak, Croatia) and Rachel Kayongo (Northridge, California).
Three of The Shore’s recruits address the Hawks’ most critical need - the front middle. To fill the void left by the graduations of Alana Polk and Mere Serea, Callarman is calling on freshmen Mauri Carver (Elizabeth City, North Carolina) and Alexis Lee (Wilmington, Delaware), and junior JUCO transfer Lidia Chery (Garfield, New Jersey).
Carver comes from an athletic family in Elizabeth City. Her father and brother played for Old Dominion’s basketball team, and a second brother is a current player on Hampton’s basketball team. Mauri made the varsity squad at Northeastern High School, developing into an First Team All-Conference talent. In her senior campaign she led her conference in blocking, kills and hitting percentage. She also has an impressive academic resume as the National Honor Society president for Northeastern her senior year.
Lee was a three time First Team All-State player in Delaware for volleyball while also competing in basketball and track. The St. Elizabeth Vikings made the tournament in three of four seasons she played, and she earned three titles as a track runner as well. Her academic credentials are also noteworthy, with honor roll credits throughout her interscholastic career. Lee also battled for the Brandywine Blackout, a top 100 club in the nation.
Chery competed in 34 sets for the Monroe Mustangs during the past year as the team won 20 matches. Prior to her time in college, she played two years on her varsity squad at Garfield High School in northern New Jersey.
The trio of middle players will form a group of four with returning redshirt sophomore Sola Okesanjo (Chicago, Illinois).
Rounding out the 2018 class are freshmen Stella Johnson (Newport News, Virginia) and Tijana Korosec (Belgrade, Serbia). Johnson joins the Hawks as a libero, and Korosec comes on as a setter.
Johnson is a volleyball and soccer standout from Warwick High School in Virginia. She excelled as a libero for the Raiders, ending her career with 1,723 digs - fifth most in Virginia High School history. That effort netted her several accolades, culminating in a Second Team All-State selection as a senior. Like her fellow freshmen recruits, Johnson is also talented academically with her placement on the honor roll and participation in the National Honor Society.
Korosec continues the Hawks proud tradition of foreign born talent to bolster their roster, joining libero Maja Jankovic as teammates from Serbia. She is expected to provide depth to the setter position behind junior - and fellow European - Ivana Blazevic. Back in her home country, Korosec competed for Radnicki, one of the top club teams in the country.  
The Hawks open up the 2018 campaign in late August.  
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU Softball Records Momentous Season in 2018



DURHAM, North Carolina — Second-year head coach Vashion Johnson guided the 2018 North Carolina Central University softball program through a historic season that featured numerous team and individual accomplishments, which was capped by a run in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Softball Championship.

The Lady Eagles won nine of their last 11 games to wrap up NCCU's best season since joining the NCAA Division I ranks (started the transition in 2007-08). The team accomplishments were complemented by a variety of individual achievements. Below is a recap of some major highlights from the 2018 NCCU softball season.

Team Photo

2018 NCCU Softball Team Accomplishments
-Recorded first 20-win season at the DI level
-Posted first winning league record in the MEAC Southern Division (8-7)
-Tallied 15-12 record against MEAC member institutions
-Finished program-best third place at MEAC Championship (3-2) with wins over Delaware State, Savannah State and Hampton
-No-hitter vs. South Carolina State (April 21)
-Swept three-game series from South Carolina State and archrival North Carolina A&T
-TEAM OFFENSE: .241 batting average, 19 homeruns, 119 RBI, 145 runs, 44 stolen bases (all second best numbers since joining the MEAC in 2011-12)
-TEAM PITCHING: 3.15 earned run average, 20 wins, 10 shutouts, 335 strikeouts, .254 batting average against (all program best numbers since joining the MEAC in 2011-12)

2018 NCCU Softball Individual Accomplishments
-First Team All-MEAC honorees in pitcher Courtney Mirabella and third baseman Ava Dolan (they are the first two First Team award winners since joining the league)
-NCCU Female Athlete of the Year (Mirabella)
-Five MEAC Pitcher of the Week awards (Mirabella)
-One MEAC Player of the Week award (Dolan)
-MEAC All-Tournament Team (Mirabella)
-306 Strikeouts by Mirabella (program record)
-18 wins, 10 shutouts, 1.66 ERA, .194 opponents average against are all new DI era program records by Mirabella
-37 RBI and nine home runs are both new DI era program records by Dolan
-20 strikeout game vs. Maryland Eastern Shore by Mirabella is one strikeout shy of the NCAA record for a regulation seven-inning game.
-No-hitter by Mirabella vs. South Carolina State
-Mirabella signs pro contract to play in Italy

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

NCCU's Koerner Named to USA Baseball Coaching Staff

Koerner USA Baseball 2018CARY, North Carolina – North Carolina Central University baseball head coach Jim Koerner has been named technical advisor for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team during the 18th USA vs. Chinese Taipei International Friendship Series from June 28 to July 2, USA Baseball has announced.

"I want to thank Eric Campbell of USA Baseball for this opportunity," Koerner said. "It's an honor to be a part of the premier amateur baseball organization in the country. I'm excited to be able to represent NC Central and to be involved with some of college baseball's best athletes and coaches."

Koerner has spent six seasons coaching at NCCU and has amassed 131 wins during his time, including a school record 28 victories during the 2018 season. The Eagles got off to its best start in program history in 2018 by going 9-3, and also captured votes in the NCBWA Top-30 Poll for the first time.



Koerner will work with the Collegiate National Team during the International Friendship Series with Chinese Taipei, which will be a five-day, five-game series. The first two games will be played at Coleman Field in Cary, North Carolina, on June 28 and 29, before heading to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on June 30. The series will then return to Coleman Field for the final two games on July 1 and 2.

Koerner will be responsible for coordinating with the umpires and making sure that they are aware of all rules and ground rules for the series. He will also insure the quality of game baseballs and settle any game disputes immediately.

The USA Baseball Collegiate National Team (CNT) is comprised of the top collegiate baseball players in the country. The team competes each summer in a schedule of exhibition games across the U.S. and overseas against the world's top baseball talent. As part of this schedule, the U.S. takes on the Japan Collegiate All-Stars nearly every summer, and squares off in international friendship series against the likes of Canada, Chinese Taipei, Cuba and the Netherlands.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Norfolk State Women's Hoops Announces 2018 Signing Class

Norfolk State University Spartans Logo - Go to homepageNORFOLK, Virginia --  Norfolk State women's basketball head coach Larry Vickers announced on Friday the addition of the five-member 2018 recruiting class. The class features a pair of high school standouts and three junior college transfers.

"I am excited to announce my third women's basketball class here at Norfolk State University," Vickers said. "We think we have a great class, not only in terms of basketball abilities, but who they are as young women. Every piece fits the overall scheme of what we want to bring to NSU to win a championship."

Jameila Barrett
5-9 G, Baltimore, Md.

Barrett signed with NSU in the fall of 2017 and attended Catonsville High School in Catonsville, Maryland. Barrett led Catonsville to the 2018 Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) Class 4A state championship game as a senior and averaged 18.2 points, four assists and four steals per game.

"Barrett is a very good defender and takes pride in it," Vickers said. "She is the perfect size as a combo guard and will be tough to guard."

The 5-9 guard garnered first team Class 3A/4A all-state honors from the Maryland Basketball Coaches Association (MBCA) in 2018 and was a MBCA All-Academic honoree. Barrett joined the 1,000-career point club as a senior and made the Baltimore Sun's All-Metro second team.

Barrett's junior season saw her named to the MBCA All-Academic team and the All-Baltimore County first team. The Comets claimed the MPSSAA Class 4A state title in 2016-17, and Barrett averaged 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds and tallied over 100 steals on the season. In the Class 4A semifinal, Barrett exploded for 26 points and five rebounds on 10-of-15 shooting.

"Barrett is very inquisitive about life and about the game of basketball," Vickers said. "She is also an incredible student that will fit into our Spartan culture."

Dana Echols
5-5 G, Auburn, Ala.

Echols joins Norfolk State after two seasons at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she teamed up with current Spartans Kendrea Dawkins and Raven Russell in 2016-17.

During the 2017-18 campaign, Echols received second team All-Region 22 North Division honors after starting all 37 games for the Bucs and averaging 8.2 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 3.0 steals in 23.6 minutes per game. The Auburn, Ala. native shot 41.1 percent from deep, the 36th-best mark in National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division-I, on nearly three attempts per game and ranked inside the top-10 nationally in assists (210, fourth), steals (112, sixth) and assist-to-turnover ratio (3.0, 10th).

"We are extremely impressed by Dana's 3-point shooting, ball handling and her overall experience," Vickers said. "We hope she will bring a great deal of maturity, instinct and leadership. She has proven that she can make everyone on the court better."

The Bucs ran through the regular season in 2017-18, going 29-0 and 13-0 in Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC) North Division contests. Shelton State CC also claimed the ACCC Tournament championship and reached the semifinals of the NJCAA D-I Tournament, where its perfect season was spoiled by an overtime buzzer-beater. The Bucs rallied with a blowout win in the consolation game to finish the year 36-1.

As a freshman, the 5-5 guard averaged 6.4 points, 4.7 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals in 16.1 minutes per game as the Bucs posted a 34-3 record, won the ACCC and placed third at the NJCAA D-I Tournament. Echols averaged nearly one 3-pointer per game while leading all Shelton State CC qualifiers in 3-point percentage (39.3).

Echols joined Shelton State CC from Auburn High School in Auburn, Ala., where she was a four-year contributor on the varsity women's basketball team. As a senior, Echols averaged 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.6 steals per game and was named first team Class 7A All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) and player of the year by the Opelika-Auburn News.

Danyael Goodhope
5-5 G, Norfolk, Va.

Goodhope returns home to Hampton Roads from Odessa College in Odessa, Texas, where she appeared in 30 games for the Lady Wranglers during the 2017-18 season, averaging 4.4 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.4 minutes per game. The 5-5 guard turned in an 11-point, five-rebound performance in the Region V championship game against New Mexico Junior College and reached double figures in scoring four times, including a season-high 18 points against Palo Alto College.

"Danyael is an experienced guard who has played at three high-level programs, including local powerhouse Princess Anne High School," Vickers said. "We saw a powerful player that plays non-stop, is always alert and is never standing still."

Goodhope transferred to Odessa from Winthrop, where she played in 24 games as a freshman in 2016-17. At Winthrop, Goodhope made 16 starts and averaged 8.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 27.2 minutes per game. She was named Big South Conference Freshman of the Week on Dec. 19, 2016 after scoring 10 points against No. 3-ranked Baylor and adding a team-high 15 points and seven rebounds against Mercer.

Goodhope competed for four years at Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, where she was a three-time Virginia High School League (VHSL) Group 5A state champion. She was named a team captain for her senior campaign in 2015-16 and earned first team All-Atlantic Conference honors while being named the conference's defensive player of the year. Goodhope also earned All-5A South Region honors as a senior and made the 2016 Virginian-Pilot All-Tidewater second team.

She is the daughter of former NSU standout and Dallas Cowboys running back Orlando Goodhope. Her older sister, Galaisha Goodhope, played women's basketball at both Old Dominion and VCU.

Shekinah Howard
5-10 G, Atlanta, Ga.

Howard joins the Spartans from Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia, where she averaged 9.6 points and 4.6 rebounds per game for the 2017-18 Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 7A state champions.

"Howard is an extremely versatile player," Vickers said. "She could play anywhere from primary ball handler to two guard, small forward or power forward, depending on matchups and what we are trying to accomplish. She has great length and talent."

Westlake blitzed through the 2018 GHSA state tournament, out-scoring opponents by nearly 20 points in five contests. The Lions won 29 games in 2017-18 and received a postseason invitation to the Geico High School Nationals Tournament.

Howard averaged 15.7 points and 10.2 rebounds as a junior, was named the team's most valuable player and received first team GHSA All-Region 2 honors. The 5-10 guard was also named to the GHSA All-Region 2 first team following her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Le'Deja James
5-8 G, Virginia Beach, Va.

A local product, James comes to Norfolk State from South Georgia Technical College in Americus, Ga., where she played two seasons.

James' sophomore season saw the 5-8 guard average 15 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals in 25.9 minutes per game. She shot 62 percent from the field, ranking sixth in NJCAA D-I, and 82.6 percent from the charity stripe. The Virginia Beach native garnered Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association (GCAA) Player of the Week honors for four-consecutive weeks, setting the South Georgia Tech record for most player of the week accolades in a single season.

"James is a guard that should be able to affect the game in many ways as a scorer or facilitator," Vickers said. "She can score off the bounce and possesses great athleticism. With the seniors we lost it is the perfect time to add such a versatile guard."

As a freshman in 2015-16, James made 29 appearances for the Lady Jets, starting three times and averaging 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 1.5 assists and 24.0 minutes per game.

A four-year varsity contributor at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, James graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer.

James averaged 21 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game for the Patriots as a senior and led South Hampton Roads in scoring. The All-Coastal Conference Player of the Year, she also received All-Coastal Conference first team honors and was named to the All-Group 6A South Region first team.

As a junior, James averaged 18.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.7 steals and racked up first team mentions on the All-Coastal Conference and All-Group 6A South Region teams.

"Each player comes from a terrific family and every player knows how to win," Vickers said. "They are unselfish players that complement each other well."

The Spartans return seven players from last year's 18-win squad, including starters Khadedra Croker, Alexys Long, Russell and All-MEAC Rookie Team honoree Armani Franklin.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

NSU to Install Artificial Turf at Dick Price Stadium

Artificial Turf Mock-Up Dick Price StadiumNORFOLK, Virginia -- Norfolk State University announced on Friday that contractor R.A.D. Sports will install a new top-of-the-line artificial turf field at William "Dick" Price Stadium for the 2018 season.

R.A.D. Sports recently broke ground on the project to replace the current grass field with a premium synthetic surface manufactured by Shaw Sports Turf. It will include updated designs for the end zones as well as the team areas between the 25-yard lines. The new turf will allow the Spartans to practice on their stadium field during the season and will enable the University to host more events year-round without damaging the field.

"We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to replace the natural grass playing surface to an artificial turf surface in our football facility, William "Dick" Price Stadium," said NSU Athletics Director Marty L. Miller. "This is a significant project that will improve recruiting, increase revenue opportunities, strengthen the football schedule and enhance the game-day experiences for our students and fans. The recent updates to the athletics facilities have been critical in positioning Norfolk State University as a major competitor in athletics for years to come."

In addition to the new turf surface, a new drainage system for the stadium will be put in place during construction. Electrical and data conduits will also be placed underneath the field. Spike Zone Pro 1.75" with Envirofill infill, a hybrid turf product from Shaw Sports Turf, will be installed during construction.

NSU has played on a natural grass surface since the stadium opened in 1997. The turf upgrade project, which costs $1.38 million, is scheduled to be completed before the Spartans open their 2018 season. NSU's first two games of the year are at home, against Virginia State in the Labor Day Classic on Sept. 1 and then James Madison on Sept. 8.

About Spike Zone Pro Turf
With Spike Zone Pro, the slit film and monofilament fibers support the requirements for the ball and athlete to perform well, while a thatch layer adds another level of consistency for each step. Spike Zone Pro has a patented design of threading all three turf fibers through one needle, essentially giving each row the same combination of fibers. As a result, the finished product has a great aesthetic look while ensuring the lack of streaks on the field. This combination of fibers allows Shaw Sports Turf to create a surface that plays and performs more consistently than any other hybrid product.

About Shaw Sports Turf
Calhoun, Georgia-based Shaw Sports Turf is the leader among synthetic turf companies and is the largest American-owned and American-made synthetic turf company in the world. Shaw Sports Turf has demonstrated industry leadership in both quality and innovation for more than two decades with over 3,000 successful installations, and an impressive list of high-profile installations, including the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengal, Tampa Bay Rays and many others. Engineered for performance and safety, Shaw Sports Turf features a product line designed specifically to meet the needs of athletes and sports programs.

About R.A.D. Sports
R.A.D. Sports, based out of Rockland, Massachusetts, is a family-owned business that specializes in the construction of high-quality athletic and recreation facilities. It has completed projects with schools such as Rhode Island, Providence, Harvard, Yale, New Hampshire and Boston College, as well as Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, and the Baltimore Ravens practice facility. Since 1994, R.A.D. Sports has grown to be one of the most trusted and successful athletic and recreation facility contractors in the industry.

By: Mike Bello, Asst. SID
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

The Next Big Thing: New Video Board to Transform Experience at CAU Panther Stadium

New Video Board InstallationATLANTA, Georgia -- Rising out of the south end of CAU Panther Stadium will be the next big thing for Clark Atlanta University athletics.

Big, as in large and bright.

Soon, the current scoreboard at the stadium will be coming down and a new, state-of-the-art video board will be erected in its place. The LED video screen is 27 x 42 feet with a versatile display that can be configured as a scoreboard or as a complete video board.

Panther football fans will now be able to see highlights, instant replays, promotional videos, advertising and other content on the new video board.

"The video board will provide a stirring, heart-throbbing game experience for CAU alums and supporters, will showcase the work and impact of faculty, staff and students, and positions our corporate partners to communicating with new and existing cliental," said CAU Athletic Director J Lin Dawson.

"This video board not only changes the landscape in the Atlanta University Center, but it also positions Clark Atlanta University to host regional and national events," Dawson said. "People are going to feel like they are right in the action. It will be an entirely new experience."

Workers have already started the rewiring of the old scoreboard connecting to the stadium press box in preparation for the new board that will go up in the far south corner of the stadium in the coming weeks.

The video board is just one of the more than 30 facility improvements that have taken place across the CAU athletics landscape over the past several months. L.S. Epps Gymnasium has seen everything from a new floor, new bleachers, new goals, weight room, team room and locker rooms for all of the Panthers and Lady Panthers sports teams housed there.

Coming up in the near future will be the resurfacing of the track surrounding the CAU Panther Stadium football field; upgrades to the adjacent Lady Panthers softball field; enhancements of the football locker room, along with a new weight room. New brick and iron fencing around the stadium is also scheduled, as is a new entry way design for the stadium.

One of the more ambitious projects will be the reconditioning of the pool at Epps Gymnasium, a project that is being spearheaded by Steve Ewing, president of Wade Ford.

But first will be the new video board that will able to be seen clearly across the field by drivers traveling up and down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Besides being a focal point of CAU football games, the video board will also serve as an important advertising venue throughout the week.

"The video board and the 32 other project in athletics stem from the vision that CAU president Dr. Ronald A. Johnson has set for the University and athletics," Dawson said. "Our objectives are simple – being the university of choice, the employer of choice and to be the investment of choice."

CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY PANTHERS SPORTS INFORMATION

Under Construction: FAMU's Bragg Memorial Stadium

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- This camera is located at Bragg Memorial Stadium and will cover the installation of the 3d Root Zone Series Astro Turf.  The process has begun and it will be installed in time for the Sept. 1 opener against Fort Valley State.

The turf that is being installed in Bragg Stadium is currently installed at Boston College, Oklahoma State and Camping World Stadium in Orlando, to name a few venues.


Bragg Memorial Stadium Quick Facts
  • Named after: Father and son team of J.B. "Jubie" and Eugene Bragg (Considered the fathers of Rattler Football)R
  • EugRene Bragg coached the Rattlers during the early 1930s and 1940s.
  • Originally built: 1957 (state appropriations)Original capacity: 10,700
  • Original amenities: Contained a dirt track.
  • Renovation: 1980
  • Renovations: Expanded press box, press box elevator, the field was lowered by six feet to accomodate the drain and sprinkler systems, two electronic scoreboards were added.
  • Current capacity: 25,500
  • Natural grass surface from 1957-2018


FAMU is installing artificial field turf in Bragg Memorial Stadium.

FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Big South takes on a new look with Hampton, USC Upstate coming aboard

HAMPTON, Virginia -- The Big South is getting a makeover this weekend.

Hampton and USC Upstate officially come aboard the conference Sunday, the same day flagship member Liberty exits for the Atlantic Sun Conference.

"It's certainly a shift," said Robert Lineburg, the athletic director of Big South member Radford. "[But] it still remains a very viable and strong mid-level conference."

Radford is losing its closest and biggest league rival with the departure of Liberty.



"We'll miss that rivalry," Lineburg said.

But the Big South still has three Virginia members, thanks to the addition of Hampton. Lineburg is looking forward to having a Tidewater school in the league.

"That Tidewater area … has a lot of opportunities for us from a recruiting standpoint — not only from athletics, but it'll help us … [with] overall student recruitment to have a Big South school in that area," Lineburg said.

"The Tidewater area's huge for us," Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander said. "All of our institutions recruit there, so it's great to have a presence."

CONTINUE READING

Friday, June 29, 2018

Grambling State Adjusts 2018 Football Schedule

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University released its updated football schedule on Thursday featuring a new October 6, 2018 home game facing Oklahoma Panhandle State. The Tigers will have an 11-game schedule as the Tigers will no longer face Bacone College Sept. 15.
 
In addition, High School Day, which was set to take place on September 15, has been moved to September 22, when Grambling State will face Alabama State at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium. Business and Industry Day, which was set to take place on September 15 will now be held on October 6.




The Tigers return this season after back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) championships and will play seven SWAC games, along with four non-conference games this season. Grambling State will play its first three games in Louisiana, before ending September with a neutral site game at the annual State Fair Classic against Prairie View A&M at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
 
Season tickets for the 2018 football season are now on sale to the general public through the university ticket office.
 
Fans are encouraged to visit www.gsutigers.com or visit GSU's Ticket Office inside the Frederick C. Hobdy Assembly Center from Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.  This season, ticket packages include season ticketing, tailgating, and optional early-bird tickets for the Bayou Classic. All ticket sales are final and there will be no refunds or exchanges.
 
For more ticket information, please call (318) 274-2625 or (318) 274-2629.
 

2018 GRAMBLING STATE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
DateOpponentLocationTime
9.1at LouisianaLafayette, La.6 p.m.
9.8at Northwestern StateNatchitoches, La.6 p.m.
9.22ALABAMA STATE^Grambling, La.6 p.m.
9.29vs. Prairie View A&M*Dallas, Texas4 p.m.
10.6OKLAHOMA PANHANDLE STATE&Grambling,  La.6 p.m.
10.13at Texas Southern*Houston, Texas6 p.m.
10.20at Alcorn State*Lorman, Miss.2 p.m.
10.27ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF*#Grambling, La.2 p.m.
11.3MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE*%Grambling, La.2 p.m.
11.10at Alabama A&M*Huntsville, Ala.1 p.m.
11.24vs. Southern*New Orleans, La.4 p.m.
 
* - Southwestern Athletic Conference Game 
# - State Fair Classic (Cotton Bowl – Dallas, Texas)
% - Bayou Classic (Mercedes-Benz Superdome – New Orleans, La.)
^ - High School Day
& - Business and Industry Day
# - Military Appreciation/Breast Cancer Awareness Day
% - Homecoming/Senior Day
All times are listed as Central 
Home Games are played at Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium and are in ALL CAPS and BOLD

Follow Grambling State Athletics
For complete coverage of Grambling State Athletics, please follow the Tigers on social media at @GSU_Tigers (Twitter), /gramblingstateathletics (Facebook), @gramblingathletics01 (Instagram) or visit the official home of Grambling State Athletics at gsutigers.com.
 

Thursday, June 28, 2018

NSU Spartan Basketball Finishes Recruiting Class with Bishop

NORFOLK, Virginia -- The Norfolk State men's basketball program announced one last player to round out its 2018 recruiting class. Saint Louis University transfer Jermaine Bishop has signed with head coach Robert Jones and the Spartan program.

He will arrive at Norfolk State after playing one and a half seasons for Saint Louis. He was an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team selection in 2015-16 as a freshman, averaging 8.9 points, 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds per game, including nearly 12 points per game in conference play.

"We are extremely happy to welcome Jermaine to the Spartan family," said Jones. "Jermaine can score at all three levels: layups, mid-range jumpers and 3-pointers. He also brings tremendous leadership and experience to the team. He will be the most productive transfer we have been able to sign at NSU. That instantly will make him one of the best guards in the MEAC from day 1. We can't wait to get him on the floor."



Bishop averaged 11.6 points, 4.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds in nine games during his sophomore year in 2016-17 before missing the rest of the year due to injury. He shot better than 80 percent from the free throw line during his time at SLU and nearly 37 percent from beyond the arc at the time of his injury his sophomore year.

During that shortened season, Bishop scored 27 points in a game against BYU after also scoring at least 20 in three games his freshman season. He also owns career highs of eight assists, eight rebounds and four steals, all achieved during his sophomore campaign.

A redshirt junior this year, Bishop sat out the 2017-18 season and will have two years of eligibility left.

He will join a 2018 recruiting class that includes freshmen guards Joe Bryant and B.J Fitzgerald, freshman forward Chris Ford, and graduate transfers Obi Momah (forward) and Armani Branch (small forward). NSU returns five players who competed last year as well as three who sat out the season.

NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Grambling State's Broderick Fobbs signs contract extension



The four-year, $1.28 million extension is effective July 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2022.

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State and Broderick Fobbs made his four year contract extension official Thursday, as the head G-man signed the deal to keep him in Grambling through the 2022 season.

Fobbs says he's glad to have this process behind him, and his excited for the future of his Tigers, "To know that, not only the university, but the foundation is really, really thinking about our family, coaches, and players. The mark of a great program is to have great stability. In order to do that, you have to have people in place. The university and the foundation is doing a really good job in trying to make sure everything stays intact and comfortable so we can continue moving the needle forward."

Fobbs returned to his alma mater in December 2013 and has led the Tigers to a 39-11 overall record in four seasons. Those wins include the University’s first HBCU National Championship since 2008. Under Fobbs, the team is 32-2 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play and has won back-to-back conference championships in 2016 and 2017. These achievements have contributed to Fobbs winning the SWAC Coach of the Year honor for four consecutive years.

CONTINUE READING

TSU Football Season Tickets Go on Sale July 2

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Tennessee State University football season tickets will go on sale Monday, July 2 in the TSU Ticket Office. 
Ways to renew/purchase season tickets
1) Visit the TSU Ticket Office on the main campus 
2) Call the TSU Ticket Office and order over the phone
3) Mail in the order form or brochure (Found on tsutigers.com)
The box office will close for Independence Day on July 4 but sales will resume on Thursday. The deadline to renew season tickets is August 8.
To secure seating on TSU's side for the Southern Heritage Classic, tickets must be purchased from the TSU Ticket Office. Additionally, a limited amount of tickets for the TSU vs Hampton game (Hampton, Va.) may be purchased for $10 through the Ticket Office.
For more information, call (615) 963-ROAR (7627) or (615) 963-5841.
Season Ticket Information
Season Ticket Price - $70 
TSU Faculty/Staff - $60
Young Alumni - $50
Kid’s 12 and under - $50
Season Parking - $50
Must specify at the time of purchase for Young Alumni and Kid’s season tickets.
SINGLE GAME TICKET PRICES (50 yard line)
JOHN MERRITT CLASSIC - $40
HOMECOMING - $50
JACKSONVILLE STATE - $15
UT MARTIN - $15
Day of Game Parking - $25

Starting again: Alcorn offensive lineman ready to play after knee injury

LORMAN, Mississippi -- Alcorn State University offensive lineman Deonte Brooks has played through injuries before.

He played with a broken ankle during his junior year of high school and competed with a partially torn knee ligament in the 2016 SWAC Championship against Grambling State. That’s the name of the game for Brooks though, as offensive lineman often play with pain.

Yet in spring 2017, Brooks suffered the worst injury he couldn’t endure.

“It was a freak accident,” said offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, Ryan Stanchek. “It wasn’t necessarily a contact play. The best description is the injury was a fluke.

“It wasn’t fun to see.”

CONTINUE READING

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

7-time NAIA qualifier Gold Nuggets sign 4 more

Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyballNEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has signed four more student-athletes to its volleyball program.
     
New to coach Pat Kendrick's Gold Nuggets for the 2018-19 school year will be:
     •  Angele McClain, a 5-foot-8 middle blocker/right side from New Orleans, a graduate of Newman High School and a transfer from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala. She will be a dual-degree biomedical engineering major at XULA.
     •  Marine Angely, a 5-11 outside hitter from Sirvy, France, and Lycee Arthur Varquaux. She is undecided on her major.
     •  Damilola Dada, a 5-9 right side/middle blocker from Grand Prairie, Texas, and Mansfield Summit High School. She will be a pre-pharmacy major.
     •  Beatrice Formilan, a 5-10 libero from Santorso, Italy, and Liceo Scientifico Tron. She will be a business management major.
     

McClain will be a sophomore. Angely, Dada and Formilan will enter as freshmen.
     

McClain redshirted at Spring Hill in 2016, then hit .337 with 45 kills and 15 blocks in 2017 for a Badgers team that was 27-5 overall and 18-0 in the NCAA Division II Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. She was a three-year starter at Newman and helped the Greenies win the LHSAA Division IV state championship as a sophomore in 2013.
     

McClain played four years of club ball, most recently with Blue Crab. "Angele is an athletic player who will be strong at the net in the opposite and middle positions," Kendrick said.
     

McClain's mother, Lisa, is a longtime XULA employee and the associate director of the university's Office of Campus Ministry.
     

Angely helped her club team finish third this year in the Interpole championships. "Marine is a steady attacker with outstanding ball-control skills," Kendrick said, "and she will be a force at the outside attacker position."
    

 Dada produced 132 kills, 48 blocks and 39 digs as a senior starter for Mansfield Summit. She made her school's honor roll every quarter, was a soprano section leader in the choir for three years and head dance choreographer as a senior. Dada played two years of club volleyball, most recently with NRG.
    

"Lola is a dynamic athlete," Kendrick said. "She will add depth in the middle."
    

 Formilan helped her club team, Bruel Volley Bassano, finish second in Italy's national finals in 2017.
     

XULA's previously announced signee was middle blocker Jordan Johnson of Kansas City, Mo.
     

The Gold Nuggets will open their 11th season Aug. 24 in the Mid-South Crossover Tournament at Bowling Green, Ky., against Cumberlands at 4 p.m. and Georgetown (Ky.) at 8 p.m. The first home date will be Aug. 31 with matches against Point at 11 a.m. and Mobile at 7 p.m. in the Big Easy Blastoff at the Convocation Center. XULA won the last seven Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and earned seven consecutive automatic bids during that time to the NAIA National Championship.


2018-19 XULA Volleyball Signees

NamePos.Ht.Yr.*HometownHigh School (Previous College)
Marine AngelyOH5-11Fr.Sivry, FranceLycee Arthur Varquaux
Damilola DadaRS/MB5-9Fr.Grand Prairie, TexasMansfield Summit
Beatrice FormilanL5-10Fr.Santorso, ItalyLiceo Scientifico Tron
Jordan JohnsonMB6-1Fr.Kansas City, Mo.Liberty
Angele McClainMB/RS5-8So.New Orleans, La.Newman (Spring Hill)

* XULA athletic classification in 2018-19


Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold

www.facebook.com/xulagold