Division I dream comes true for GSU recruit McIver

Killen High School (Texas) Volleyball star Tiara McIver selected the GSU Lady Tigers over offers from Tarleton State, Texas Southern and Prairie View A&M. The 5-10/145 left-handed spiker plans to major in English/Language Arts Teacher Education.

After two months of waiting for a response — any response — Tiara McIver would've given Grambling State "another week or two weeks or so," the Killeen High senior, affectionately known as "Tree," said. McIver got the response she was looking for from Lady Tigers coach Kim Young. Then, the Lady Roos outside hitter received her invitation to visit the Grambling, La., campus and was finally offered her opportunity to play Division I volleyball, which she accepted Friday in the Killeen High School gymnasium by signing her national letter of intent.

"I thought she was going to e-mail the next day. I really did ... but she didn't," McIver said. "I would check my e-mail all the time, I asked my mom to check my e-mail all the time when I was in school. I thought she was going to contact me back right then. "As soon as I heard from her, it was just a sigh of relief," said McIver, who posted 198 kills, 22 aces, 254 digs and 87 blocks as a senior and Killeen's only all-district first team selection.

McIver assumed the delayed response was because of the Lady Tigers' Southwest Athletic Conference (SWAC) tournament finals appearance and other end-of-season requirements. Whatever the reason, McIver said she never gave up on earning a Division I scholarship, despite receiving numerous offers from smaller schools. That goal was made all the more difficult by the Lady Roos' struggles. Killeen hasn't made the playoffs since 2004 and has a combined six district wins (of 30) and one winning season in the last three years. So McIver created a profile on the website berecruited.com and contacted Young via e-mail shortly after her final prep season at Killeen, where she finished as a three-year starter and the District 16-4A MVP blocker as a sophomore.

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Grambling, first-year coach Donnita Drain have a winning debut

(L) Head Coach Donnita Drain; (R) Sophomore forward Secrett Anderson, a transfer from Florida A&M 2006-07 team, was the game high scorer.

First-year women's basketball coach Donnita Drain made a successful debut as the Grambling State University Lady Tigers captured a 91-63 exhibition win over Huston-Tillotson on Sunday afternoon in the Assembly Center. With eight newcomers receiving extensive action in the first half, it took some time for the Lady Tigers to establish an offensive rhythm as Huston-Tillotson managed to claim an early 16-15 lead at the 10:36 mark. However, the tide of the contest began to change as Grambling went on a 13-0 run that was sparked by newcomers Rachele Dobbins and Secrett Anderson. From that point, Grambling never looked back as they closed out the first half ahead 47-37.

Huston-Tillotson drew to within eight points on several occasions early in the second half but never could get over the hump as the Lady Tigers managed to stop several of their runs with defensive stops. As a result, Grambling eventually secured control of the contest midway through the second half with an 18-1 surge that featured five points and four rebounds from senior Gabrielle Fleming.

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Grambling soccer stuns Louisiana Tech

GRAMBLING, LA – A pair of goals in the final four minutes of regulation and a failed clear of a corner kick in the third minute of overtime allowed Grambling State to overcome a 2-0 deficit and defeat Louisiana Tech 3-2 in overtime Tuesday afternoon at the Lady Tiger Soccer Field. “(Grambling) was the better team today,” Tech head coach Kevin Sherry said. “They wanted it more. They played harder and deserved to win.”

Despite dominating possession and outshooting the Lady Tigers 30-14, a squad mostly made up of reserves in the last few minutes could not hold a 2-0 lead for Tech (4-2). Grambling (1-4) played with only 10 players the entire match. “I take full responsibility for this loss,” Sherry said. “I tried to rest my starters late in the game, and I shouldn’t have done that. That said, we kind of had this loss coming. We’ve gotten away with playing poorly the last two games, and it finally caught up with us.”

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Grambling sets high volleyball goals for 2008

By GSU Sports Information

After falling short in the finals of the 2007 SWAC Volleyball Tournament, the Grambling State Lady Tiger volleyball team returned to campus this week hungrier than ever as they began preparing for the 2008 campaign.

Led by head coach Kim Young, the Lady Tigers came within a match of earning a NCAA Tournament bid as they had an emotional SWAC Tournament run that saw them play 25 consecutive games. With an experienced roster returning, expectations are high for the Lady Tigers this season but Young said her team has to get in shape before they move on to anything else.

“The first few days were pretty difficult,” she said. “I sent my players workout manuals that were designed to keep them in shape while on summer break. Half of the players came back in good shape while a few of the younger players thought it would be easy to whip back into shape at the beginning of camp. It took some time for them to get back to where I wanted but mostly everyone is in good condition.”

The Lady Tigers will hold two practices per day until the start of school on August 18. Young said the morning practices will emphasize conditioning while the afternoon session is spent on tactical issues. With a veteran team returning, Young said her goal is to capture the SWAC Championship.

“I’ve worked with this group for several years so we’re on the same page in terms of goals this year,” Young said. While Young has the luxury of experience on her side, she’s also going to spend a lot of time working her freshman group into the mix so they can gain the experience needed down the line.

“After the year is over, I’m going to lose some key seniors so the freshmen will see a lot of action,” said Young. “I have high expectations for them so that this time next year, they’ll be ready to step into the shoes of the seniors and pick up where they left off.”

Grambling opens the year on the road in Tampa Bay, Fla. at the University of South Florida Invitational on the weekend of Aug. 29-30.

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Prairie View A&M routs Grambling State Tigers

Photo: PVAMU guard Gaati Werema led four Lady Panthers in double figure scoring with 28 points, 16 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal in 26 minutes of action. The 6-0 sophomore is from Orlando, Florida, Orlando Christian Prep.

Prairie View A&M University Sports Information

Gaati Werema's 28 points and 16 rebounds paces the Lady Panther's offensive attack

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas- The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers (16-8 11-1 SWAC) got back on track with a convincing victory over the Grambling State Lady Tigers (1-22, 0-13 SWAC) on Monday, February 18th in the William Nicks Building.

Lady Panther forward Gaati Werema had a monster night racking up 28 points and 16 rebounds on 9-of-18 shooting from the floor. Werema’s point total also included an impressive 10-of-12 showing from the charity stripe.

Chari Smith had a double-double performance tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds. Overall Prairie View A&M shot 37 percent from the floor, while holding the Lady Tigers to just 20 percent shooting for the game.

PVAMU took their largest lead of the game at 32 points at the 2:20 mark of the second half. From that point Grambling State would get no closer than 30 points.

For the game Prairie View A&M scored 25 points off GSU miscues. The Lady Panthers out scored Grambling State in the paint 34-8 and in second chance points 12-1.

Prairie View A&M will return to the hardwood on Saturday, February 23rd, when they travel to Pine Bluff, Arkansas to take on the UAPB Lady Golden Lions. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.

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