Krysta Medearis, Kayla Torres hit milestones; Alabama State Vollyball sweeps Alcorn State

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State withstood a furious push from Alcorn State in the second and third sets and won their seventh-consecutive match with a three-set (25-16, 25-23, 25-23) victory against the Lady Braves.

With the victory, the Lady Hornets (17-17, 14-2) reached .500 overall for the first time since August, 31 and are assured no worse than the No. 2 seed in the SWAC Volleyball Tournament.

Alabama State had a couple of players hit career milestones on the night as Kayla Torres picked up dig No. 700 courtesy of a six-dig effort and junior Krysta Medearis spiked 12-of-27 attacks to place the Memphis, Tenn. native with 807 career-kills.

Kori Kutsch – who came into the match ranked 35th nationally in total service aces -- assisted on 28 kills and tallied 11 digs, picking up her 10th double-double of 2018.

BOX SCORE

The Lady Hornets cruised in the opening stanza but saw a four-point advantage dissipate in the second frame and used a service ace from Kayla Torres to spark a 4-1 run to close out the set. The storyline continued in the final set as the Lady Braves (8-19, 4-12) recovered from an early 10-4 onslaught to eventually tie the game at 18-18. Medearis provided three pivotal kills to carry Alabama State down the stretch and the Lady Hornets clinched the win on an Alcorn State ball-handling error.

Alabama State will face first place Alabama A&M Thursday night in Huntsville, Ala. First serve is at 7 pm.

Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State volleyball, follow the Lady Hornets on social media at @BamaStateVB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State Athletics at BamaStateSports.com.

ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

AAMU Lady Bulldogs Volleyball Blanks MVSU, 3-0

HUNTSVILLE- The current winning streak for the Alabama A&M University women's volleyball team now stands at 16 straight matches after the Lady Bulldogs swept Mississippi Valley State 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-17) on Monday for the team's "Dig Pink" match inside the Elmore Gym.

Leading the way was Alana Cox with 10 kills and a .533 attack percentage. Cox also secured three blocks along with Ashley Jackson and Terra Brooks. Jaelin Gant added eight kills followed by Maya Evans with seven. Maci Battle led with 13 digs and Gant added 10 digs. Megan Evans had 30 assists for AAMU and one service ace.

BOX SCORE

The Lady Bulldogs improve to 20-12 overall and 16-0 in Southwestern Athletic Conference play. The team is assured no worse than the No. 2 seed, and can clinch the No. 1 seed and the regular-season title with a win over Alabama State Thursday night. The match between the Lady Bulldogs and Lady Hornets will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at Elmore Gym.

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama A&M's Dell named STATS FCS Freshman of the Week

CHICAGO, Illinois — Nathaniel Dell's first Magic City Classic has been one to remember.

And the memories continue to pour in.

Dell was selected as the STATS FCS Freshman of the Week Monday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the Alabama A&M receiver was named the SWAC Newcomer of the Week.

Dell, a 5-foot-10 and 160-pound freshman from Daytona Beach, Fla., caught six passes for 204 and two touchdowns Saturday afternoon during Alabama A&M's 27-10 win against rival Alabama State.

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS 

Tuskegee and Miles Meet for SIAC Divisional Matchup

ATLANTA, Georgia  –  After a close determining week, week ten of the SIAC Football regular season will bring us closer to determining this year’s championship slate, with one team punching their ticket to play for the conference trophy.
 
With Albany State’s 21-0 victory over Benedict this past weekend, the Golden Rams have earned the Eastern Division Championship title. This feat marks the Golden Rams’ first appearance in the title game since the 2015 season. The Albany State University football team extended their win streak to six games with a 21-0 shutout of Benedict College, Saturday afternoon at C.W. Johnson Stadium. It is ASU's first shutout since their 38-0 Homecoming win over Morehouse in 2015.
 
The Western Division is still up for grabs as Tuskegee and Miles enter the battle both 3-2 in countable conference play. Countable conference play is determined by division contests in addition to the final two cross-divisional games. The two western division rivals will face off against each other for the divisional crown and a chance to host the SIAC Football Championship title.
 
Saturday, November 3, 2018 is the final date of regular season play for the 2018 SIAC Football season. The winner of the Western Division will be announced upon the conclusion of this weekend’s games, with the Western Champion advancing to face Albany State in the SIAC Football Championship on November 10 at the Western Division Champion’s campus. Tickets are available now via GoFan.  For more information on the 2018 SIAC Football Championship, visit us here. 

SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Spring Hill Badgers Women's Basketball Ranked in South Region Pre-Season Polls

ATLANTA, Georgia  – After making their full transition into Division II, Spring Hill's Badgers women's basketball team is ranked No. 9 in the D2SIDA Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll, released Monday by the D2SIDA Women's Basketball committee.

The Badgers garnered a spot in the poll behind Tampa and Lee to round out the poll.

During the 2017-18 season, Spring Hill Lady Badgers finished 22-6 overall (15-3 in conference play). Spring Hill returns 9-of-16 from its 2018-19 team including All-Conference performers Tiffany Valentine and Elise Reilly, and welcomes eight new faces to the squad.

The Badgers opens its 2018-19 campaign with on the road in an exhibition game against Nicholls State University on Nov. 1 at 6 p.m.

Other conference opponents that received votes in this poll were defending champions, Clark Atlanta, with six votes and Central State with four votes.

SOUTH
Rank School (First-Place Votes)
1 Union (6)
2 Florida Southern
3 Valdosta State
4 Eckerd
5 Embry-Riddle
5 West Florida
7 Tampa
8 Lee
9 Spring Hill
10 Nova Southeastern
RV: Clark Atlanta (6), Central State (4), Barry (4), West Georgia (1)

Link to D2SIDA Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll

By Jim Stennett
SPRING HILL COLLEGE BADGERS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Saint Augustine's Baron Freeman Selected as NCAA Cross Country National Athlete of the Week (Oct. 29)

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana – We’ve reached the end of the road when it comes to National Athlete of the Week in two of the three NCAA divisions (NCAA Division I and NCAA Division III) and both NJCAA divisions.

Here are those athletes who stood out the most from their peers during the opening weekend of the postseason and were named National Athletes of the Week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.

• NCAA Division II Men –  Baron Freeman,  Saint Augustine’s

NCAA DIVISION II MEN – Baron Freeman, Saint Augustine’s

Freshman | Hampton, Virginia

Baron Freeman was named a National Athlete of the Week after winning the individual title at the CIAA Cross Country Championships this past weekend.

The freshman took home the individual honors by 40 seconds after posting a 25:52.6 on the 8K course. The Hampton, Virginia, native paced his team to a second-place finish overall.

Freeman was also selected as the CIAA Men’s Runner of the Year and is the first athlete in program history to be honored as a National Athlete of the Week during the cross country season.

By USTFCCCA Communications, USTFCCCA 

Week 9: SWAC Football Players of the Week

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Arkansas-Pine Bluff junior running back Taeyler Porter, Alcorn State junior linebacker Brelion Hollis, Southern sophomore punter Cesar Barajas and Alabama A&M freshman wide receiver Nathaniel Dell all named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Football Players of the Week in week nine of the season for their outstanding play.

Offensive
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Taeyler Porter (JR, RB, Immokalee, Fla.)
Junior running back Taeyler Porter finished with a career-high 226 rushing yards on 38 carries and added three touchdowns including a 75-yard touchdown run and averaged 5.9 yards per carry
Porter entered the game just one yard shy of the SWAC rushing leader and is now has overtaken the lead in the conference with 1,037 yards and nine rushing touchdowns.

Defensive
Alcorn State
Brelion Hollis (JR, LB, Monroe, La.)
Hollis turned in a career day for the Braves. He wrapped up a career-high 12 tackles to go along with a sack and a pair of tackles for a loss. Alcorn ranks first in the nation in both sacks and tackles for a loss per game, and Hollis will help improve the team's tally as it sacked Jalen Morton five times and brought PVAMU down 11 times behind the line of scrimmage. Hollis' previous career-high in tackles was eight set last year at Jackson State. Hollis helped the Braves defeat the Panthers 27-13 which put them in the driver’s seat in the SWAC East Division. Hollis also aided Alcorn in holding the league's then leading rusher, Dawonya Tucker, to just 60 yards.

Specialist
Southern
Cesar Barajas (SO, P, Arcadia, Fla.)
Barajas continued to set the tone for Southern’s special teams Saturday averaging 47.5 yard per punt on six punts. Two of Barajas’ landed inside the 20-yard line and the true sophomore posted a long of 60 yards as the Jaguars earned a 41-7 victory against Jackson State. On the season, Barajas ranked third in the conference in yards per punt at 41.7 yards per kick.

Newcomer
Alabama A&M
Nathaniel Dell (FR, WR, Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Playing in his third collegiate game (because of an injury in early September), Dell caught six passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. The freshman caught a 26-yard touchdown in the second quarter that gave AAMU a 7-0 lead, and caught a short pass in the fourth quarter and sprinted 81 yards down the sideline for a touchdown that gave AAMU a 20-10 lead. AAMU defeated ALST 27-10 in the 77th annual Magic City Classic in front of over 65,000 fans at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.

SWAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC Announces Weekly Volleyball Honors

NORFOLK, Virginia — Florida A&M junior Maria Yvette Garciawas named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Volleyball Player of the Week, the conference office announced today. Morgan State’s Zoe McBride was named Rookie of the Week, while Bethune-Cookman senior Meraiah Hill earned Defensive Specialist of the Week honors and Coppin State freshman Brianna Lang was named Setter of the Week.



2018 MEAC Volleyball Statistics | MEAC Volleyball Weekly Notes | 

 Garcia (6-1, Jr., OH, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) averaged 4.4 kills, 2.46 digs and 5.08 points per set this past week in leading Florida A&M to wins in all four of its matches and the top of the Southern Division standings. Hitting .245 for the week, Garcia opened with a 17-kill performance against South Carolina State – a match in which she hit .394. After turning in eight kills and nine digs against Savannah State, Garcia closed the week with 23 kills, 11 digs and three blocks in a win over North Carolina Central.
 
McBride (6-0, Fr., OH, Ridgefield, Wash.) recorded double-doubles in both of Morgan State’s matches this past week, averaging 4.71 points per set in the process. She opened the weekend with a 15-kill, 15-dig, four-ace, three-block performance against Howard, before hitting .286 against Norfolk State – a match in which she racked up 11 kills and 12 digs. For the weekend, McBride averaged 3.71 kills and 3.86 digs per set.
 
Hill (5-10, Sr., MB, Ocala, Fla.) averaged 2.14 blocks per set for Bethune-Cookman in a pair of wins this past weekend. In Friday’s four-set win over North Carolina Central, she had 10 total blocks – falling one shy of the career high and program single-match record she set earlier this season against Jackson State. She followed that up on Sunday with five total blocks in a straight-set win over North Carolina A&T State.
 
Lang (5-8, Fr., S, Atlanta, Ga.) averaged 9.75 assists per set this past weekend, and she recorded a double-double on Friday against Norfolk State – racking up 54 assists to go along with 16 digs. She also had three kills, two service aces and a block in that match. On Sunday against Howard, Lang had 24 assists.
 
Other Top Performers
J’Nai Higgins (B-CU) had 39 assists and 10 digs against North Carolina Central.
 
Jordan Jefferson (B-CU) had a double-double against North Carolina Central with 15 kills and 16 digs.
 
Skyla Whitaker (B-CU) had six kills and 10 digs against North Carolina Central.
 
Christa Johnson (CSU) had seven total blocks against Norfolk State and five more against Howard.
 
Ilayda Nurkan (FAMU) racked up 49 assists against North Carolina Central.
 
Kira Porter (HOW) recorded 13 kills against Coppin State and 10 against Morgan State.
 
Kailyn Williams (HOW) was strong against Coppin State, racking up 10 kills to go along with two total blocks.
 
Ivana Blazevic (MDES) had 42 assists and 10 digs against Liberty.
 
Rachel Kayongo (MDES) had 21 kills against Liberty and 10 against Delaware State.
 
Koya Sowells (MDES) had two double-digit dig performances: 14 against Liberty and 10 against Delaware State.
 
Mykaela Ross (MSU) racked up 13 digs against Norfolk State.
 
Anna Rupertova (NSU) had double-digit kills in both matches, including 16 in a straight-set win over Morgan State.
 
Tyler Chenault (SSU) hit .615 against Florida A&M, recording eight kills.
 
Ashley Jordan (SSU) had 22 assists, 13 digs and four total blocks in a win over South Carolina State.

SWAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Albany State Rises In NCAA Regional Rankings

ATLANTA, Georgia – Concluding an exciting weekend of SIAC football action, the Golden Rams not only clinch the Eastern Division, but stands tall in the second week of the NCAA Super Region Two Regional Rankings, announced Monday.
 
The Golden Rams secured the No. 7 spot behind West Alabama and Florida Tech who also holds 6-3 records. Albany State has improved after last week’s debut at No. 10.  
 
In last weekend’s contest, Albany State extended their win streak to six games with a 21-0 shutout of Benedict College Saturday afternoon at C.W. Johnson Stadium.
 
It is ASU's first shutout since their 38-0 Homecoming win over Morehouse in 2015. The Golden Rams move to their SIAC record to 5-0 (6-3 overall) and claimed the title as the 2018 Eastern Division Champions.
 
They have now solidified a spot in the SIAC Championship on Nov. 10, marking their first appearance in the title game since the 2015 season. The game will be played at the SIAC West Division Champion's campus, which will be the winner of next week's Tuskegee vs. Miles game.
 
The Golden Rams regular season final will take place next Saturday at the 29thAnnual Fountain City Classic. Kickoff is scheduled for 2pm at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Georgia. CLICK HERE for tickets and more information on this year's festivities.
 
For more information on the 2018 SIAC football championship, click here. 
 
SUPER REGION TWO                         
1          West Ga.         9-0       9-0
2          Valdosta St.     8-0       8-0
3          Lenoir-Rhyne   8-1       8-1
4          Bowie St.         6-1       7-1
5          West Ala.        6-3       6-3
6          Florida Tech    6-3       6-3
7          Albany St. (GA)           6-3       6-3
8          West Florida   5-2       5-3
9          Wingate          6-3       6-3
10        Fayetteville St. 6-1       6-1

SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Week 9: SIAC Football Players of the Week

ATLANTA, Georgia – Trent Mays (Central State) was named Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Football Offensive Player of the Week, while Tyler Scott (Albany State) earned Defensive Player of the Week, released by the league office on Monday.
 
Jackson Spradlin (Miles) was also tabbed Special Teams Player of the Week alongside Kevin Greenhow (Central State) who earned Newcomer of the Week.
 
OFFENSIVE – Trent Mays, Central State
Quarterback  |  6’0  |  205  |  Stuebenville, OH
 
Central State senior quarterback Trent Mays set a career-high with 376 passing yards to bring the Marauders back from 14-point second half deficit to beat SIAC defending champion Tuskegee, 40-36, on Saturday. Mays completed 19 of 39 passes and threw three touchdowns in the victory. He also picked up his fifth rushing touchdown of the year.
 
DEFENSIVE – Tyler Scott, Albany State
Defensive Back  |  5’10  |  180  |  Tampa, Florida
 
Scott collected four total tackles (three of which were solo) in the Golden Rams shutout over the Tigers. Scott also posted a forced fumble and an interception for Albany State to secure their spot as Eastern Division Champions.
 
SPECIAL TEAMS – Jackson Spradlin, Miles
Kicker/Punter  |  5’9  |  190  |  Dora, Alabama
 
Spradlin was perfect on three field goal attempts (26, 31 and 45). He also made an extra point from 35 yards with no time left on the clock to give Miles a 28-27 win over Clark Atlanta. Despite not having taken over full-time kicking duties until the third game of the season, Spradlin leads the league in field goals made and field goal percentage.
 
NEWCOMER – Kevin Greenhow, Central State
Wide Receiver  |  6’3  |  205  |  Columbus, OH
 
Central State receiver Kevin Greenhow led the Marauders to a 40-36 victory over Tuskegee on Saturday. Against the top-ranked defense in the SIAC, Greenhow had seven receptions for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Greenhow became the first Marauder in 20 years to record back-to-back games of 200 or more receiving yards.
 
OTHER PLAYERS NOMINATED
 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK	Marcus Reynolds (Lane); Justin Hardy (Miles); Charles Stafford (Clark Atlanta); Kelias Williams (Albany State)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK	Jeramie Tate (Clark Atlanta); De'Micheal Mcqueen (Lane); Austin Stephens (Miles); Kalil Gray (Tuskegee)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK	Mike Green (Albany State); Lorenzo Smothers (Fort Valley State)
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK	Randall Johnson (Lane); Antonio Leroy (Albany State)

SIAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MEAC Announces Weekly Football Honors

NORFOLK, Virginia -- South Carolina State quarterback Tyrece Nick was selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Offensive Player of the Week, the conference announced today. Savannah State linebacker Mulik Simmons was named Defensive Player of the Week while the Rookie of the Week award goes to Delaware State running back Michael Chris-Ike. South Carolina State’s Michael Terry received Offensive Lineman of the Week honors while South Carolina State placekicker Dillon Bredson was named the Specialist of the Week.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyrece Nick
South Carolina State
QB
6-0 | 170 | R-So.
Johnston, S.C.
Nick controlled the offense for South Carolina State as he completed 11-of-18 passes for 109 yards this past Saturday at Howard. He also rushed for 93 yards off 23 attempts and scored a pair of touchdowns as he finished with 235 yards of total offense.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mulik Simmons
Savannah State
6-2 | 225 | Sr.
Savannah, Ga.

Simmons finished with two interceptions in the win over Norfolk State and also had a total of six tackles with one tackle for loss.

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK
Michael Terry
South Carolina State
6-0 | 250 | Jr.
Duluth, Ga.
Terry graded out 90 percent on the week as the Bulldogs defeated Howard this past weekend. He protected the offense with six pancake blocks which led to S.C. State’s 432 yards of offense.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Michael Chris-Ike
Delaware State
RB
6-2 | 215 | Fr.
Ontario, Canada
Chris-Ike set a career-best and season-best performance for DSU as he finished with 127 yards on 21 attempts. His longest rush spanned 42 yards as he averaged six yards per carry, while also scoring a touchdown in the win over N.C. Central.

SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Dillon Bredesen
South Carolina State
PK
5-10 | 160 | Fr.
Pensacola, Fla.
Bredesen scored eight points in the win at Howard as the freshman connected on a pair of field goals including a season-best kick of 46 yards.

NOTABLE PERFORMERS
Brian Cavicante (LB/Delaware State)
Cavicante had a total of nine tackles, four in which were solo, with 2.5 tackles for loss in the win over N.C. Central.

Nigel Chavis (LB/Norfolk State)
Logged nine tackles, a season-high 3.5 for loss, and two sacks at Savannah State.

Omar Cummings (RB/South Carolina State)
Led the Bulldogs with a team-high 13 carries for 103 yards with a touchdown in the win over Howard.

Herman Jackson (DB/Florida A&M)
Finished with six solo tackles and two pass break ups against Morgan State, one in which it stopped a drive the Bears were attempting to make in the third quarter.

Chris Faddoul (P/Florida A&M)
Averaged 44.3 yards in his three attempts on the weekend, his longest being a 53-yarder, while also downing one kick inside the 20-yard line.

Tye Freeland (DB/Howard)
Recorded a season-high 14 tackles in the contest against S.C. State.

Dedrick Parson (RB/Howard)
Parson recorded his second straight game with scoring two or more touchdowns, gaining 112 yards off of 13 attempts with a long run of 62 yards versus South Carolina State.

Elijah Richardson (LB/Florida A&M)
Handed out 10 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss in the win over Morgan State. He also had two pass break-ups and forced two quarterback hurries.

Rashad Saxton (RB/Savannah State)
Gained 118 yards on 17 attempts, while scoring a touchdown in the 32-3 win over Norfolk State.

Ryan Stanley (QB/Florida A&M)
Stanley finished the day in the win over Morgan State 14-of-22 for 163 yards, while scoring three touchdowns.

MEAC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Providence Friars Capture 83-55 Exhibition Victory over Bowie State’s Bulldogs

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island – Division I Providence College went on an 8-0 run to end the half up 37-29 and never looked back to capture an 83-55 exhibition victory over Bowie State University on Saturday afternoon.

Junior transfer Rinardo Perry (Washington, D.C.) led Bowie State with 16 points and added five rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals. Junior Saiquan Jamison (Upper Marlboro, Md.) just missed a double-double, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds and scored eight points for the Bulldogs. Sophomore Justin Route (Washington, D.C.) contributed eight points while juniors Juwan Smith (Lexington Park, Md.) and David Belle (Hyattsville, Md.) chipped in seven points each in the setback.



Emmitt Holt opened the scoring for the Friars recording the first six points, starting with a put back dunk at the 19:19 mark. Bowie State answered with a Belle three before Holt received back-to-back assists on the block, coming from Alpha Diallo on a fast break and a no look pass from David Duke. Bowie State started hot from three-point range, going 3-of-3 in the first four minutes of play.

The Friars struggled for the next 2:08, going scoreless as the Bulldogs went 3-of-3 to tie the game, 15-all with 12:11 left in the first half. Providence's A.J. Reeves broke the scoring drought as he cut behind the defense on the baseline, where he received a bounce pass from Makai-Ashton Langford for an easy dunk.

Both teams traded buckets over the next eight minutes, Nate Watson broke into the scoring column with three buckets in the paint while the Bulldogs scored four fast break points and connected on a three to make the game even, 29-29 with 3:23 left in the first half.

Providence found success in the paint in the second half, increasing their lead to 51-36 with 14:17 left in regulation. Alpha Diallo drove twice down the lane before dumping the ball off for two thunderous dunks by Nate Watson. Watson finished with a team-high 14 points and five rebounds.

Providence turned over the Bulldogs five times during a 12-2 run starting at the 12:05 mark, producing back-to-back threes for Reeves and Diallo. Minutes later, Makai Ashton-Langford came up with a steal that he threw up to Reeves for an acrobatic alley-oop dunk to make the lead 65-40.

BOX SCORE

Watson led five Friars in double figure scoring with 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Isaiah Jackson, Diallo and Holt contributed 12 points apiece and Duke finished to contest with 10 points. Emmitt ended the game with a team-high nine rebounds.

Providence shot 47.7 percent from the field (31-of-65) compared to 32.3 percent (21-of-65) for Bowie State. Turnovers (23) really hurt the Bulldogs which translated into 32 points off turnovers for the Friars. Bowie State was able to out-rebound Providence, holding a 44-41 advantage on the glass.

Bowie State will begin the regular season portion of its schedule Friday, November 9th at 5:30 p.m. when they take on the University of Charleston in the opening game of the PSAC/MEC Conference Challenge in Charleston, W.Va.

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

A&T Bowling Finishes Fourth In Bearcat Hammer Open

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Illinois – Eleventh-ranked North Carolina A&T completed their second tournament of the season in fourth place after posting an 8-5 record at the McKendree Bearcat Hammer Open. The Aggies are now 19-7 on the season.

Going in bracket play on Sunday, N.C. A&T sat in fourth place. They started the day with a loss to No. 1 ranked Vanderbilt in six games. The Aggies took the first two games 185-167 and 192-182 before Vanderbilt took next four games to win the best of seven Bakers play matchup. N.C. A&T's second contest of the tournament against Central Missouri went a lot like the first. The Aggies won in five games before facing second-ranked McKendree. It took seven games for last season's national runner-up to defeat the Aggies in a seesaw battle that saw McKendree win games 1, 3,6 and 7 in Bakers play.

“Great to be in a position to win going into the last day,” said N.C. A&T coach Kim Terrell-Kearney. “They continue to fight until the end and we will continue to get better.”

Junior Tyra Merritt led the Aggies by finishing 11th overall for the tournament with a 1,042 total pinfall in traditional team play. She had a 208.40 average in five games followed by sophomore Ana Olaya who finished with a 207.20 average and a total pinfall of 1,038. Sophomore Cameron Strombeck was also finished in the top-20 with a 201.60 average.

N.C. A&T went 4-1 in traditional play during Day 2 of the tournament on Saturday. The Aggies downed their first four opponents starting with a 1,078-955 win over the Prairie View A&M Panthers. Merritt led the Aggies by bowling a 249. Reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Bowler of the Week Pamela Warr bowled a 246 in the win that served as the Aggies only 1,000-plus game on Saturday. Two more Aggies exceeded 200 games as Strombeck bowled 214 and Olaya posted a 201.

The Aggies next win was a 982-910 triumph over Maryville. Olaya bowled a 233 and Merritt finished the game by bowling a 213. The good times continued for N.C. A&T, as they knocked off 18th-ranked Central Missouri 925-893 and Drury 950-831. Olaya led the Aggies against Central Missouri with a 214 while Strombeck's 205 led the Aggies against Drury. The only loss on the day came against defending national champion Vanderbilt, 1,067-954.

BEARCAT HAMMER OPEN RESULTS

In Bakers play, the Aggies went 4-3 over Friday and Sunday’s matches. They opened up Friday with two tough losses. The Aggies faced third-ranked Nebraska to open the tournament losing 985-930 to the Cornhuskers. Second-ranked McKendree then defeated the Aggies 1,042-931. N.C. A&T got things rolling against No. 14 Lincoln Memorial with a 927-889 win. The momentum from that victory led to two more wins as N.C. A&T beat Lincoln 927-889 ad No. 5 Arkansas 1,041-940.

The Aggies will begin conference play, Nov. 10-11 in Wilmington, Del., in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Meet No. 1.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks win Caldwell University Cougar Classic

HERNANDEZ, HICKS EARN ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS

ROCKAWAY, New Jersey — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women's bowling team won its first tournament of the 2018-19 season thanks to bracket play victories against Delaware State and Saint Francis University (Pa.) at the Caldwell University Cougar Classic on Oct. 28.

"I'm so proud of these girls and the work they are putting in on a day-to-day basis at the facility," head coach Kayla Bandy said. "We have lots to work on as our main objective is preparation for March, but it feels good to go home to work on things with a win."

The Hawks (10-3) entered the morning in second place and remained there following a 945-864 loss in their final Traditional match. The squad entered bracket play as the No. 2 seed and faced Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference rival Delaware State to open things up. The Shore shut out the Hornets 4-0, then followed that up with a 4-1 victory against No. 1 seeded Saint Francis.

Eastern Shore fell behind the Red Flash 1-0 to start the final match, but then rebounded to win four straight.

Senior Alexandra Hernandez (Maracaibo, Venezuela) and junior Cayla Hicks (Salem, Virginia) were named to the event's All-Tournament team. Junior Brigitte Jacobs (Freeport, Illinois) left just one open frame during bracket play and filled every 10th frame.

"Brigitte and Alexandra were great at the bottom of the lineup," Bandy said. "Cayla was great in the heart of the lineup as she was communicating between the top of the lineup and the girls at the bottom."

Sophomore Paulina Torres (Ponce, Puerto Rico) finished in sixth place overall with a 186.33 average over six Traditional games. Danielle August(Millilani, Hawaii) filled 15 of 20 frames in bracket play.

"Danielle and Paulina did their job consistently filling the frames and bringing the energy to the top of the lineup. Isabel came in the third game and filled all of her frames to help us to the win. We didn't get Quianna (Macares) in the lineup because the friction hadn't developed enough for her but she was ready if we needed her."

The Hawks will next travel to Houston, Texas for the Track Kat Klash hosted by Sam Houston State Nov. 2-4.

BY SHAWN YONKER
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Jackson State Announces Leadership Change in Football Program

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State University Vice President and Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson announced today that Head Football Coach Tony Hughes will not have his contract renewed at the end of the season.

“I would like to thank Coach Hughes for his dedication and hard work to Jackson State University and the Jackson State football program,” Robinson said. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

Defensive Coordinator John Hendrick will serve as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the season.

“We have a talented group of hard-working student-athletes and I look forward to the program finishing the season strong playing for the senior class under the leadership of Coach Hendrick,” Robinson said.

“Our goal is to find a new head coach who will build on our great tradition and grow our football program,” added Robinson.

Hughes went 9-20 overall in two plus seasons with the Tigers including 8-12 in SWAC play. Jackson State is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play this season.

Hired in December 2015 as the 19th head football coach in Jackson State history, Hughes came to JSU from Mississippi State where he spent seven years coaching safeties and as a recruiting director. He was named assistant head coach in 2013.

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Alabama A&M Volleyball Sweeps Alcorn State 3-0

AAMU Lady Bulldogs Move to 15-0 in SWAC and 19-12 Overall

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The Alabama A&M University volleyball team secured a 3-0 sweep over Alcorn State Sunday evening in Elmore Gym.
 
AAMU took the Lady Braves in straight 25-9, 25-14, 25-18 sets. Maya Evans led the Lady Bulldogs with 11 kills while Alana Cox added 10 followed by Jaelin Gant with nine. Ashley Jackson and Terra Brookswere also offensive contributors, each putting up five kills.  AAMU hit .352 in the match, powered by Megan Evans with 37 assists. Defensively, Mine Centinoz led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 digs while Gant added 10 and Brooks had nine. AAMU totaled four aces, 46 digs and four team blocks, limiting the Lady Braves to a .040 hitting performance.
 
AAMU returns to action tomorrow, October 29th in a 6 p.m. match against Mississippi Valley State in Elmore Gym for the Dig Pink Game.

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Kori Kutsch records career-assist No. 3,000, as Alabama State Volleyball Sweeps MVSU

BOX SCORE

MONTGOMERY, Alabama | Senior Kori Kutsch picked up career-assist No. 3000, Bayle' Bennett recorded her fifth double-double (13 kills, 11 digs) of 2018 and Alabama State grabbed its seventh-consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference win with a three-set victory over Mississippi Valley State (25-12, 25-13, 25-9).

Kutsch amassed 34 total assists, recording her 16th match of the season surpassing the 30-helper plateau.

Sophomore outside hitter Imanie Williams – making her first career start -- provided The Lady Hornets (16-17, 13-2 SWAC) with a spark after connecting on an efficient four-of-eight attacks (.500) while chipping in with a service ace and four digs.

"We want to look different and strengthen up our first line of defense at the net," Alabama State head coach Penny Lucas-White said of the lineup change.

Despite a seven-day span between matches, the Lady Hornets hit at a clean .292 attack-rate, with four players hitting at least .263. Payten Clark hammered away 10 kills en route to .368 attack percentage. The Baton Rouge, La. native has snagged 53 total kills in her last seven matches and hit .362 across that period.

MVSU (5-25, 2-13) struggled to match the Lady Hornets' precision, committing 22 attack errors as the Devilettes never trailed from from the start in every stanza.

"They have been working hard since the (SWAC) Round-Up. I gave them two days so they were able to get their legs back under them because that was a tough long weekend. After two days off we came in with a new lineup and we told them why we think we can be successful in this new lineup and I believe they really bought in," Lucas-White said.

Alabama State makes a quick turnaround tomorrow night with a 7 pm match against Alcorn State from the friendly confines of Lockhart Gymnasium.

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For complete  coverage of Alabama State volleyball, follow the Lady Hornets on  social media at @BamaStateVB (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports (Instagram) or visit the official  home of Alabama State Athletics at BamaStateSports.com.

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Morehouse Is Home for NFL Referee and Former Maroon Tiger Jerome Boger ’77

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Sitting on the sidelines of many Morehouse Maroon Tiger basketball games you will find someone who spends most Sunday afternoons in the glare of the national spotlight.

Quietly cheering on his beloved alma mater, you'll often see 1977 Morehouse Man Jerome Boger, a veteran NFL official who has led officiating crews of some of professional football's most important games, including a Super Bowl. He is also the NFL's third-ever African American head referee after Johnny Grier and Mike Carey.

It was Boger who led the officiating crew as the referee during Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens. Carey – who wore No. 23 as Boger does now – was the last African American to serve as referee during a Super Bowl.

But it all started at Morehouse. When he says he grew up on campus, he really means it as his father was a professor at the College.

"My father taught at Morehouse," he said. "I literally grew up on the campus. We stayed in Robert Hall until I was in the 8th grade when we moved off campus. So I kind of grew up around the Morehouse environment as a child."

When it came time for college, Boger had a number of choices, but there was only one institution on his mind – Morehouse.

"Morehouse was always an option for me as a place I could go to be well-educated and prepare myself to go into manhood," Boger said. "So that was big for me growing up."

"I just couldn't wait until I had the opportunity to be enrolled myself," he said. "I pretty much didn't look at any other school."

At Morehouse, Boger actually was on the field as a star, as a four-year starting quarterback for the Maroon Tigers during the 1970s. After graduation, Boger decided to stay close to the game by becoming an official, working high school and recreational league games.

He then moved up to the college level, where he officiated in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference for 11 years and then five years in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. He then went to Conference USA, the Arena League and NFL Europe where he officiated World Bowl XIV.

Boger became an NFL referee in 2004 and was promoted to NFL game crew's lead official – in 2006. He now is one of the league's most respected referees.

But Morehouse is where he calls home. Seeing Boger, who lives in Conyers, Ga., on Atlanta's east side, at Morehouse events shouldn't be a surprise. After a long NFL season, it's where he calls home.

"I always equated Morehouse as being home for me," Boger said. "As a comfort zone. It was a place where I was able to watch young men mature and use some of those values in my upbringing and see that you can have the emphasis on education and on brotherhood at the same time."

"It was always in my blood, in my DNA," Boger said of Morehouse. "I always felt this was home for me."

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Remembering Morehouse Track and Field Coach Troy Berry

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Family, friends and former track athletes are remembering long time Morehouse College assistant coach Troy Berry.

Berry passed away last week at the age of 54.

Berry was born in St. Petersburg, Florida where he attended public school before enrolling at Morehouse College. While at Morehouse, Berry was a member of the Maroon Tiger football team playing defensive back. Before graduating he served as equipment manager from 1991 to 1997 for the football team and transitioned over to the track and field team as assistant coach under legendary coach Willie Hill. After earning his degree he was elevated to full-time assistant coach.

In 2010, Berry was named NCAA DII South Region Assistant Coach of the Year. In almost 20 years as assistant coach of the Maroon Tigers he was part of Morehouse's historic championship run until 2015 when he departed the program.

The entire Morehouse College family mourns the passing of coach Berry and sends their deepest sympathy and condolences to his family, friends and former student-athletes.

FULL OBITUARY BELOW:

Troy Artez Berry

Sunrise: March 8, 1964 - Sunset: October 15, 2018

Troy was born March 8, 1964 in Saint Petersburg, Florida to Ruth Carol Berry and Albert Davis.
The Lord Called Troy home on October 15, 2018 while resting at Largo Rehab Center.

Troy attended public school in St. Petersburg, Fl after graduation Troy enrolled at Morehouse College where he graduated with his Master's Degree. He stayed there and worked in the athletic department track and field being one of the three great coaches on staff for over 20 years.

Troy was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Ga. He enjoyed sports, fishing, and coming back home for family picnics at Fort Desota Park.

Troy leaves to cherish his memories: One daughter Adjre Yates Berry - one god son; J.J. His loving mother Ruth Carol Miller and father Albert Davis. Brothers; Rojay Berry, Guy Samuel, Andrew Richie, and Craig Coleman. Sisters; Crystal Grace, Jasman Grace, Melinda Samuel, Stephanie Richie and Felecia Dandy(LaRay), Pamela Wilson(David), Faith Woodard, Kelly McColough and Kim Johnson (Pat). Two Nieces: Raven Grace and Aniyah Hayward, one nephew: Samuel Miller. Two Special Aunties; Maryann Woodard, Earnestine Berry. Deceased Aunts: Lucy Samuel, Inez Lucas. One Special Uncle: Gail Berry. Special Nephews: Darren Dixon, Kevin Woodard, Teddy Britten, Stevie Berry and a host of cousins and friends.

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