XU beats Concordia (Mich.) in 4 sets, improves to 11-3

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana overcame 45 errors, 31 by its attackers, to earn a 25-21, 25-15, 22-25, 25-20 women's volleyball victory against Concordia (Mich.) on Saturday.

Chinedu Echebelem, who did not record her first kill until a first-set-clinching shot, finished with 13 kills, 17 digs and four assists for the Gold Nuggets (11-3). It was Echebelem's seventh double-double of the season, her third in a row and fifth in the last six matches.

Jodi Hill, reaching double figures in kills for the second consecutive match, had 11 of them and five blocks for Xavier. Franziska Pirkl posted her career-best third consecutive double-double with 36 assists and 13 digs, and she served three of Xavier's seven aces.

Alisha Anderson had 15 kills, 11 digs and three aces for Concordia (8-15).

Xavier hit .112 -- its lowest in a victory since the second match of 2011 -- and no primary attacker hit higher than .185. (Pirkl, the Nuggets' setter, hit .250 in 16 swings.) But Xavier limited the Cardinals to .108 hitting and benefited from 46 Concordia errors, 12 on serves.

Xavier had an 89-66 advantage in digs -- Darian Harris had 23, CeCe Williams 16 and Kayla Jones 13 -- and led 49-36 in kills.

The Gold Nuggets used a 12-2 run to take control after trailing 9-5 in the second set and got kills from Echebelem, Hill and Pirkl to take a 22-18 lead in the third and close in on a sweep. But Concordia extended the match by scoring the final seven points of the third, three on XU attack errors.

Xavier trailed 4-1 in the third but righted itself with a 6-0 run which included a Williams ace and a block and a kill by Hill.

The Gold Nuggets have won 10 of their last 11 matches. The only blemish was a five-set home loss to Spring Hill on Friday. Spring Hill played Concordia at XU prior to the Nuggets' match and beat the Cardinals 25-10, 25-7, 25-12.

Xavier will be on the road for a 7:30 p.m. Tuesday match at the University of Mobile. Xavier's next home match will start at 1 p.m. next Saturday against Tougaloo; Echebelem will be honored on Senior Day.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Wildcats and Rattlers Tussle at Al Lawson Center

FAMU LADY RATTLERS BLANKS BETHUNE-COOKMAN WILDCATS 3-0
PHOTO COURTESY: FLORIDA A&M SPORTS INFORMATION

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Lady Wildcats are probably looking forward to a rematch after losing to the Lady Rattlers on Friday night. The Rattlers hit what appeared to be an early TKO winning the first set 25-14. However, the Wildcats quickly recovered and put up a good fight the rest of the way before losing the match 3-0.

It was an unusual night for the Rattlers compared to their previous conference games. This was the first time in a while that they didn’t struggle in the first set and then raise their game in the second set. In the first set there were no ties and no lead changes as the Lady Rattlers led the set from start to finish.

CONTINUE READING

Xavier's Nour Abbes wins NAIA women's singles national title

BREAKING NEWS: (4:10 PM ET) Nour Abbes wins 6-3, 6-1 in "Super Bowl" semifinals of USTA / ITA National Small College Championships... Abbes won 11 of last 12 games to go to 30-0 for her Xavier University of Louisiana career.

SUMTER, South Carolina  -- Xavier University's Nour Abbes continued her perfect season by winning the NAIA women's singles national championship with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 3-seed Anastasiya Baranova of Oklahoma Baptist Saturday.

The top-seeded Abbes improved to 29-0 with the win and now will advance to a four-player tournament later Saturday and again Sunday that will also include champions from the NCAA Divisions II and III levels, and the junior college champion.

Abbes was five-for-five in service breaks early in the match, jumping to a 6-1, 2-0 lead. Baranova then broke Abbes twice and held serve for the first time to take a 3-2 in the second set.

The two see-sawed for the rest of the second set before Abbes won the match in 74 minutes.

CONTINUE READING

Badgers rally in final 2 sets to snap XU Nuggets' win streak

Xavier Volleyball vs. Spring Hill (Photo Gallery)

NEW ORLEANS — Megan Haber had a season-high 23 kills, two in a 5-0 closing run, to lead Spring Hill to a 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 15-11 women's volleyball victory against Xavier University of Louisiana on Friday.

The Badgers (18-5) snapped the 10-match win streak of the Gold Nuggets (10-3), who had not lost since Aug. 26.

Chinedu Echebelem had 19 kills and 20 digs for Xavier. CeCe Williams had 22 digs and a career-high-tying 14 kills. Jodi Hill had 10 kills and five blocks, and Claudia Haywood had 10 kills and three blocks. Franziska Pirkl served a pair of aces and had season highs of 53 assists and 13 digs.

Spring Hill trailed 5-1 in the final set before taking its first lead, 12-11, on Haber's kill. Haber and Sami Hantak scored the next point on a block of Echebelem's attack. After an XU timeout, the Badgers ended the match on kills by Hantak and Haber.

The Badgers rallied from a 14-8 fourth-set deficit to extend the match.

Spring Hill is 16-0 all-time against Xavier. It was the second consecutive time that the Badgers rallied from a 2-sets-to-1 deficit.

Hill, Echebelem and Jada Broussard had three kills apiece to lead the Gold Nuggets to their first-ever first-set victory against the Badgers.

Sami Maurer had 19 digs for Spring Hill, and Hantak had six blocks.

Xavier outhit the Badgers .213 to .163 and had advantages of 65-60 in kills and 81-71 in digs.

Both teams will play Concordia (Mich.) at XU's Convocation Center on Saturday — Spring Hill will lead off at 11 a.m., with Xavier playing the Cardinals at 1 p.m.

Box Score 
 

Facebook photos

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XULAATHLETICS

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold

https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Tuskegee's Reese gives offense consistency

TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Tuskegee's offensive line has been shuffled, rearranged and jumbled through the first five games of the season, but center Matthew Reese has been a staple throughout it all.

Reese, a 6-3, 314-pound center has been the only lineman who's made it to every practice and game so far this season. It' looks like Saturday's matchup against Morehouse at 4 p.m. in Columbus, Georgia, will be a rare occurrence, having all five starters play in the same game.

"It's been kind of tough, but I know everybody works hard, so I wasn't really worried. But it's getting better because everybody's back now," Reese said. "All of us have been working hard, but we've been having a lot of injuries along the offensive line and I've really been the only one that hasn't been injured this year. So I just keep working hard and try to keep all of the fellas together."

CONTINUE READING

Jalen Hendricks thriving in Livingstone's HOBO offense

SALISBURY, North Carolina -- Anybody who has been around Jalen Hendricks knows that he is not going to be the most talkative person in the room.

What the Livingstone College wide receiver is doing on the football field Saturday afternoons this fall says enough.

Hendricks, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound junior and 2012 graduate of Nash Central High, has turned into one of the better receivers in all of Division II football.

Hendricks is second in the nation in every notable statistical category for receivers, including 10 touchdown receptions.

After each of those touchdowns this season, in a manner that befits his personality, Hendricks simply hands the ball back the referee as his teammates do more of the celebrating.

“He has always been like that,” Hendricks’ father, Steve, said. “He’s so quiet.”

Hendricks certainly is drawing the attention of other CIAA teams with the numbers he has put up through five games for Livingstone (4-1, 1-1 CIAA).



CONTINUE READING

UMES Hawks coach inducted to hall

PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- University of Maryland Eastern Shore men’s basketball coach Bobby Collins will be inducted into the Eastern Kentucky University Hall of Fame.

Collins was on the basketball team there from 1987 to 1991, was selected to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Freshman team in 1987-1988 and was named All-Conference honorable mention as a senior.

Collins coached Hampton University for 11 seasons, four as a head coach, and was named 2005 MEAC Coach of the Year. Collins then left to join Winston-Salem State University for eight seasons, leading the Rams’ program to a 79-35 record from 2010 to 2014.

CONTINUE READING

HU's Maynor tackling new challenge

HAMPTON, Virginia -- — Connell Maynor has a new challenge, and success might take longer than it did at his last stop.

When Maynor started his head-coaching career at Division II Winston-Salem State in 2010, building a solid program seemed to take only weeks.

At Division I Hampton, the transformation might take longer as Maynor deals with different recruiting rules, a much deeper conference and a bit more pressure.

On Thursday night, Hampton was hoping to catch talented N.C. A&T off guard in a nationally-televised game. But A&T, one of the MEAC’s top teams under Coach Rod Broadway, prevailed 31-14.

“There’s a lot of talent in the MEAC, and there are no days off,” Maynor said. “There’s just no place on the schedule in this league where you can circle a date on the calendar and say that’s a sure win.”

CONTINUE READING

Norfolk State renews Labor Day Classic

HEAD COACH PETE ADRIAN
NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY SPARTANS

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Labor Day weekend football against former CIAA rivals is returning to Norfolk State.

The Spartans will play host to Elizabeth City State on Sept. 3, 2016, and Virginia State on Sept. 2, 2017, and Sept. 1, 2018, in the Labor Day Classic, the school announced Wednesday.

NSU was unable to play Division II competition on Labor Day weekend the past two seasons because of NCAA bylaws that governed the first permissible start date for D-II programs.

"I am extremely happy to be able to finalize arrangements to return the Labor Day Classic to Dick Price Stadium," NSU athletic director Marty Miller said in a statement.

"This is a winner for all of our programs, student-athletes and fans."

CONTINUE READING 

Week 7: HBCU Football Schedule

Football Saturday, October 11, 2014


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

From the Thursday ESPNU televised game against Hampton University. Songs include "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "War," "I Want You Back," "ABC," "The Love You Save," "Get Ready," "Dancing in the Street," "Neither One of Us," "I Heard it through the Grapevine," Signed, Sealed, Delivered," and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," as influenced by the Motown: The Musical... COURTESY Dr. Thomas L. Jones, Jr., North Carolina A&T State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine and the BGMM Media Team.

OVC
Jacksonville State at Tennessee State, 3 PM, ESPN3

SWAC
Southern at Alabama A&M, 2 PM
Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State (Homecoming), 3 PM
Alcorn State at Grambling State, 3 PM
Alabama State at Prairie View A&M, 3 PM

MEAC
North Carolina Central at South Carolina State, 2 PM
Delaware State at Norfolk State, 2 PM
Howard at Bethune-Cookman, 4 PM
Savannah State at Florida A&M 5 PM
North Carolina A&T 31, Hampton 14 (Thursday)   Highlights  » Watch Replay 


ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN
There is Only ONE...In the Whole Wide-World! The Florida A&M University Marching 100. Dr. Sylvester Young, Director Marching and Pep Bands, Florida A&M University.

SIAC
College of Faith at Clark Atlanta, 2 PM
Paine at Limestone, 2 PM
Stillman at Benedict, 2 PM
Kentucky State at Fort Valley State, 2 PM
Central State (Ohio) at Miles, 5 PM
Tuskegee vs. Morehouse at Columbus, GA, 5 PM
Lane at Albany State, 7 PM

CIAA
Fayetteville State at Shaw, 1 PM
Lincoln (Pa.) at Virginia Union, 1 PM (Homecoming)
Saint Augustine's at Livingstone, 1 PM (Homecoming)
Elizabeth City State at Virginia State, 2 PM (Homecoming)
Winston-Salem State at Johnson C. Smith, 2 PM
Bowie State at Chowan, 3 PM (Homecoming)

OTHER CONFERENCES
Wesley at Concordia-Selma, 12 Noon (Homecoming)
Atlanta Sports Academy at Virginia University Lynchburg, 1 PM
West Virginia Wesleyan at West Virginia State, 1:30 PM  (Homecoming)
Webber International at Edward Waters, 2 PM
Saint Joseph's (IN) at Lincoln (MO), 3 PM
Texas College at Bacone, 3 PM
Langston at Oklahoma Baptist, 3 PM
Cheyney at East Stroudsburg, 6 PM


COURTESY Mr. Marques Graham, Director of Bands, Edward Waters College

GAME TIMES ARE SHOWN IN EASTERN STANDARD TIME ZONE 

Game Notes: NCCU Eagles at SC State Bulldogs

THE GAME    
North Carolina Central University "Eagles" at South Carolina State Univ. "Bulldogs"

THE KICKOFF    
Saturday, October 11, 2014 – Kickoff at 2:00 p.m.

THE SITE    
Oliver C. Dawson Stadium (22,000 capacity/Poly Turf) - Orangeburg, S.C.

THE RECORDS    
N.C. Central (2-3 overall, 1-0 MEAC); S.C. State (4-2 overall, 2-0 MEAC)

MEDIA COVERAGE    
Audio: NCCU Sports Network mobile app (iPhone, iPad, iPod, Android, Kindle Fire HD); "GameCentral" at NCCUEaglePride.com (audio internet stream). Broadcast starts at 1:30 p.m. (Chris Hooks, play-by-play).




 QUICK HITS     
•    NCCU and South Carolina State are both unbeaten in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this season. The Eagles are 1-0 against conference foes, while the Bulldogs are 2-0.
•    In the last 10 years, S.C. State has captured two MEAC titles (2008 & 2009) outright and shared three others (2004, 2010, 2013), and made four trips to the FCS playoffs (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013).
•    S.C. State has won eight of the last nine games against the Eagles, dating back to 1976. NCCU won the 2012 meeting 40-10 in the Circle City Classic.
•    During S.C. State's three-game win streak, the Bulldogs have not scored more than 17 points, but have not allowed more than 10 points (17-7 over Furman, 17-10 over Hampton, 13-0 over N.C. A&T).
•    S.C. State is tied for the MEAC lead with 20 sacks in six games (3.3 avg.).
•    Five NCCU Eagles hail from the state of South Carolina: Andre Clarke (Mauldin), Jazz King (Duncan), Neil Williams (Chester), Keiton Burgess (Sumter), and Roderick "Dee" Harris (Simpsonville).
•    NCCU junior receiver and return specialist Adrian Wilkins ranks seventh in the nation (FCS) with an average of 174.0 all-purpose yards per game. Wilkins also leads the MEAC in receiving yards per game (74.2) and ranks second in receptions per game (5.2).
•    NCCU tops the MEAC and ranks fourth in the nation (FCS) in punt returns with an average of 23.4 yards per return.
•    NCCU's turnover margin (+4) ranks second in the MEAC.
•    Next week (Oct. 18), NCCU visits Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff.

THE SERIES    
This will be the 22nd football meeting between South Carolina State and NCCU since the two schools first played on Oct. 15, 1927. SCSU leads the series 12-9. The Bulldogs have won eight of the last nine match-ups dating back to 1976. Two year's ago, NCCU snapped a seven-game losing skid to the Bulldogs by cruising to a 40-10 victory at the Circle City Classic in Indianapolis. Last season, S.C. State returned the favor by beating the Eagles 44-3 in Durham.

Oct. 10, 2013 - SCSU 44, NCCU 3 (Durham, N.C.)
Oct. 6, 2012 - NCCU 40, SCSU 10 (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Oct. 8, 2011 - SCSU 49, NCCU 38 (Orangeburg, S.C.)

THE LAST MEETING    
(S.C. State 44, NCCU 3 - Oct. 10, 2013) South Carolina State pounded out 232 yards rushing and shut down NCCU's ground game to cruise to a 44-3 victory over the Eagles in a Thursday night ESPNU contest inside O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium. SCSU tallied 476 yards of total offense, while NCCU finished with 105 yards of total offense and was held to negative-11 yards rushing. Quarterback Jordan Reid faced pressure from the SCSU defense most of the night, completing just 9-of-25 passes for 116 yards and being sacked five times. 

LAST WEEK    
(NCCU 27, Howard 22) NCCU posted 392 yards of total offense during a 27-22 victory over Howard. Although the Bison tallied 485 yards of total offense, the host Eagles held a 27-9 cushion until Howard scored twice in the final 6:30 of the contest to make the final score close. NCCU quarterback Malcolm Bell threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns, while running for a team-high 66 yards. 

(S.C. State 13, North Carolina A&T 0) South Carolina State capitalized on a special teams mistake and a time consuming drive late in the game to defeat the North Carolina A&T State Aggies 13-0 in the 26th annual Atlanta Football Classic. The Bulldogs amassed 197 rushing yards, while holding A&T to just 156 yards of total offense. SCSU junior running back Jalen Simmons rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown.

THE COACHES    
NCCU: Jerry Mack (Arkansas State, 2003) is in his first season as a college head coach. At age 33, he boasts 10 years of coaching experience, including stints with five NCAA Division I programs and two conference championship teams. A native of Memphis, Tenn., Mack has held positions as wide receivers coach at the University of South Alabama (2012-13) and the University of Memphis (2011), as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (2010), as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach at the University of Central Arkansas (2008-09), as wide receivers and tight ends coach at Jackson State University (2006-07), and as an offensive graduate assistant at Delta State University (2004-05). Mack began his collegiate playing career at Jackson State before transferring after one season (1999) to Arkansas State University.  He lettered three years at Arkansas State (2001-03) before earning his bachelor's degree in management information systems in 2003. Mack completed his master's degree in physical education from Delta State in 2006.

South Carolina State: Oliver "Buddy" Pough is in his 13th season as head coach at South Carolina State, his alma mater. Since succeeding head coach emeritus Willie Jeffries as Bulldog head coach in 2002, Pough has built the SC State football program into a perennial power in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). During his 13-year tenure at the school where he earned a bachelor's and a master's as well as All-MEAC honors as an offensive lineman, Pough has compiled an enviable 101-45 overall record. His teams have also captured two MEAC titles (2008 & 2009) outright and shared three others (2004, 2010, 2013), and made four trips to the FCS playoffs (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2013).

THREE EAGLES EARN WEEKLY MEAC AWARDS    Three North Carolina Central University Eagles – quarterback Malcolm Bell, safety C.J. Moore and offensive lineman Clevonne Davis - have received weekly awards from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) for their play during a 27-22 win over Howard University on Saturday (Oct. 4). Bell (Richmond, Va.) has been selected as the MEAC Offensive Player of the Week, Moore (Raleigh, N.C.) has been named MEAC Defensive Player of the Week, and Davis (Miramar, Fla.) has been chosen as the MEAC Offensive Lineman of the Week. Bell accounted for 311 yards of total offense against the Bison. He completed 20-of-30 passes for 245 yards and three touchdowns through the air, and ran for a team-best 66 ground yards. Bell is tied atop the MEAC with six passing touchdowns, ranks second in the conference in pass efficiency (145.4) and third in the league with 170.8 passing yards per game. Moore collected nine tackles (seven solo), including 2.0 hits for a loss, with a forced fumble and an interception. He tops the Eagles with 43 tackles, ranks fourth in the MEAC with 8.6 takedowns per contest, and is tied for second in the league with two fumble recoveries. Davis graded out at 98 percent of his blocking assignments against Howard, anchoring an offensive line that paved the way for 392 yards of total offense by the Eagles. He tallied five pancake blocks and did not allow a sack or record a penalty in NCCU's first conference victory.

COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Southern football vs. Alabama A&M game capsule

What: Southern (3-3, 2-1 SWAC) vs. Alabama A&M (2-4, 1-2 SWAC)

When/Where: Saturday at 1 p.m. at Louis Crews Stadium in Huntsville, Alabama.

Television: This weekend's game won't be aired on television, but there will be a live stream on gojagsports.com.

Radio: WYNK 97.7

Coaches: Alabama A&M- James Spady, (1st season, 2-4). Southern- Dawson Odums, (2nd season as head coach, interim in 2012, 16-13).

Southern: The Jaguars got back on track last Saturday with a 51-36 win against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Baton Rouge. It is the second time Southern has reached 50 or more points in 2014 and the win kept the Jaguars in the top half of the Southwest Athletic Conference.

CONTINUE READING

SWAC unbeatens meet in Grambling

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Broderick Fobbs runs such a tight ship at Grambling that he rarely shows any emotion in a robotic-like way.

He cracked slightly before the season started when he admitted in August that he was anxious to coach his first game at Grambling.

On Saturday, Fobbs has the opportunity to coach his first game in Eddie Robinson Stadium — the same field he spent time on as a running back some two decades ago — when Grambling hosts Alcorn State in its home opener.

Just don’t expect any heightened sense of emotion from the same guy that refuses to talk about injuries or depth chart changes.



CONTINUE READING

FAMU Rattlers facing a catch-22 in match-up with SSU Tigers

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  -- Quarterback Damien Fleming understands the catch-22 situation that his FAMU football team will face Saturday against winless Savannah State.

He suspects that if the Rattlers soundly defeat the Tigers he'll hear how they beat up on a vulnerable team. Should FAMU lose, it would be worse than any of their previous five losses.

The Rattlers are heavily favored and Fleming, the only seniors who has faced the Tigers three times before, wants a dominating victory. The rest of the senior starters who have played one or two years against SSU don't want to go out losers to the Tigers for the first time, either.

"We are just going to go out there like it's any other team," Fleming said. "We are trying to get our first win of the season and get some confidence going into the rest of the season."



CONTINUE READING

ASU Hornets turn attention to Prairie View

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- It's going to be crucial for Alabama State players to put last week's loss to Alcorn State in the rear-view mirror and focus on Saturday's game with Prairie View A&M and ASU coach Reggie Barlow has been satisfied with his team's preparation this week in practice.

"I thought our guys have had a good mindset," he said. "I thought Tuesday was a really good practice. Our (scout) squad, the guys that prepare our offense and defense, had such great energy and they did a wonderful job and made our guys step up and play faster.

"Obviously we have put what happened last week behind us and we're looking forward to traveling to Prairie View to play against a really good team and give our best shot out there and see how things turn out."



CONTINUE READING

Abbes is XU's first to reach Small College title round

NOUR ABBES
28-0 CAREER
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

SUMTER, South Carolina --  Xavier University of Louisiana's top-seeded Nour Abbes defeated Lindsey Wilson's Alicia Rodriguez 6-2, 6-0 on Friday in the semifinals of the NAIA singles division of the USTA / ITA National Small College Championships at Palmetto Tennis Center.

Abbes -- the first from Xavier to reach the title round of this tournament -- will play Oklahoma Baptist's third-seeded Anastasiya Baranova for the championship at 8:30 a.m. EDT Saturday.

A sophomore from Tunis, Tunisia, Abbes won in 55 minutes by the same score she produced in Thursday's quarterfinals. Abbes is 28-0 in singles at Xavier, 11-0 this season.

"I started off aggressive, and that's where I was most efficient," Abbes said. "I tried to impose my game and stay focused throughout the match, and it worked."

"Rodriguez was a fighter," XU coach Alan Green said, "but Nour would just not let her into the match."

The final will be a rematch of the No. 2 (Abbes) and No. 4 players in the 2013-14 ITA NAIA postseason singles rankings. Baranova led Abbes 6-4, 3-4 on April 25 in the semifinals of the NAIA Unaffiliated Group 2 Tournament in New Orleans -- that match was halted by rule after the Gold Nuggets clinched a 5-1 dual-match victory.

Baranova is one of four singles opponents in 30 XU matches to win a set against Abbes. Since playing the OBU junior, Abbes has won 29 consecutive sets.

"Physically, I feel ready because it wasn't a very long match and it wasn't very hot weather," Abbes said. "I'm feeling good."

Baranova won her semifinal when Georgia Gwinnett's second-seeded Valeria Podda retired because of injury with Baranova leading 6-4, 4-1. Podda was the runner-up to Abbes at the NAIA South Regional in New Orleans in September.

Read more about Abbes and why she came to Xavier HERE

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Accomplished North African tennis player Nour Abbes brings international flavor to Xavier

NEW ORLEANS  -- In Nour Abbes' dorm room at Xavier University was a drawer filled with dozens of yellow toothpaste tubes, each with a thick red Mediterranean Harissa food seasoning inside and capped with a plastic red top.

The 21-year-old mixes the sauce described as having a strong chili flavoring into most of what she eats.

The native of Tunisia along the North African coast traveled a long distance to play tennis for the small NAIA-level program at Xavier and has done so with much success, while also trying find comforts of home whenever she can.

"It's a long process to get used to being here even though I'm in my second year," said Abbes, who communicates with her parents and three sisters in Tunsia through Skype and Facebook. "It's still very difficult to get adjusted because of the culture and how people speak and interact."

CONTINUE READING

TSU Tigers to Host Gamecocks in Ranked Battle, Saturday

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

WATCH LIVE | LISTEN LIVE | LIVE STATS    TSU v. JSU Game Notes

NASHVILLE, Tennessee   – The No. 25 ranked Tennessee State football team will play host to No. 8 Jacksonville State at Hale Stadium on Saturday.

Scouting TSU
The Tigers enter the contest having just lost their first conference game of the year at Southeast Missouri, 28-21. TSU fell behind by three scores and a 505 yard offensive performance was not enough to overcome the deficit.

Scouting JSU
The Gamecocks are 4-1, 2-0 in the conference and their only loss came at Michigan State. Jacksonville State is coming off of a, 38-14, victory over UT Martin in which the team’s running back Miles Jones was named OVC Offensive Player of the Week.

Three Keys to the Game

Stop the Run
The Gamecocks are the top rushing team in the Ohio Valley Conference, averaging 262 yards per game. They also boast four of the league’s top nine rushers in DaMarcus James (86.2 y/g), Troymaine Pope (65.2 y/g), Jones (62.2 y/g) and quarterback Eli Jenkins (52.8 y/g). The Tigers are currently 12th in the nation in rush defense, but have had problems this year against feature running backs – Malcolm Cyrus of Alabama State had 170 yards and SEMO’s Lenneis McFerren had 115. Last season, TSU shut down JSU’s rushing attack to the tune of 21 total yards and the Tigers could use a similar production on Saturday.

Start Fast
The Tigers have had a tough time to open every game so far this season and have not scored a single point on an opening drive this year. They have ran a total of 18 plays on six opening drives for 41 yards total, a 2.27 yard per play average. In fact, second drives have not been too productive either, as TSU has just three points on their second possessions. Despite their slow starts, the Tigers have trailed in just two games this year, but lost both of those at ASU and SEMO. A solid opening quarter could ensure TSU leads for good against JSU.

Keep Airing it Out
Quarterback Mike German’s return to the field last Saturday signaled a return to a productive passing game. German was 34-of-59 for 362 yards and two touchdowns at SEMO and could have thrown for more scores if the Tigers would have had more success inside the red zone. TSU would do better to pass more as the Tigers are averaging 5.6 yards per attempt and just 4.4 yards per rush. That disparity is even greater in the last four games; TSU has received six yards per pass, but 3.5 yards per rush. Every team needs good balance, but the Tigers would do better on pressure situations if they go to the air.

TSU is 2-7 all-time against JSU, but won last year’s contest, 31-15. The Tigers have never beaten the Gamecocks at home in three meetings, but are 5-0 at Hale Stadium since its Saturday’s game will kickoff at 2:04 p.m. and be broadcasted online at ESPN3.com or on the WatchESPN app.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

A&T speeds to comeback victory over Hampton

GREENSBORO, North Carolina — Speed is the great equalizer. Speed can atone for mistakes and hide flaws.  Speed can win games.

Tarik Cohen ran for 155 yards on 24 carries, scored touchdowns on a 68-yard screen pass and a 60-yard run, and N.C. A&T came back from a halftime deficit to beat Hampton 31-14 Thursday night at Aggie Stadium.

Cohen left proof of his elusive, cutback running style on the field: Three times the sophomore’s cuts were so sharp and quick that he ran out of a shoe, leaving a black cleat stuck in the turf and running stocking footed.

“He’s the best running back I’ve ever played with,” freshman quarterback Hasaan Klugh said. “When I first got here and saw him, I didn’t understand what all the big talk was about. But now that I’ve seen him play, the boy is amazing. He’s a playmaker.”

 Highlights  »

CONTINUE READING 

JSU prepares for 'Comegy Bowl'

ALWAYS WATCH IN 1080p HD, WIDE SCREEN

Tigers take on former coach in homecoming game against MVSU

JACKSON, Mississippi -- An exciting week of homecoming activities is underway at Jackson State, but the grand finale is Saturday's game, which has been dubbed the Comegy Bowl.

Rick Comegy will lead Mississippi Valley State as they play his former team, the JSU Tigers.

"It's homecoming. Homecoming is where you're going to look back over the years. You don't want to have a blemish on your record that you lost homecoming," said JSU coach Harold Jackson.

Jackson, who replaced Comegy, said the issue hasn't come up.

"We've got a ball game to play. Just another ball game," Jackson said.

Comegy was fired ...

CONTINUE READING

XU's Abbes wins final 10 games, rolls to national semifinals

NOUR ABBES

SUMTER, South, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana's Nour Abbes saved three break points in the fifth game to ignite a run which carried her to a 6-2, 6-0 tennis victory Thursday against Adelaide Wood of Northwood (Fla.) in the opening round of the USTA / ITA National Small College Championships.

Abbes -- a sophomore who is 27-0 in singles at Xavier and seeded first in the NAIA division of this tournament -- won the final 10 games. Abbes will play unseeded Alicia Rodriguez of Lindsey Wilson in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. EDT Friday.

"My serve saved me in those three (break) points," Abbes said. "I found some nice angles with it to make the points easier for myself."

After holding serve in the fifth game, Abbes broke Wood's serve five consecutive times. The second-set shutout was the 13th 6-0 victory of her XU career.

"Wood was a pesky opponent," XU coach Alan Green said. "But once Nour got past that fifth game, she started to dictate the match. Her forehand began to click."

Abbes called the fifth game a turning point "because I gained more confidence in myself after I won it."

Wood was a first-time opponent. Rodriguez -- who upset Evangel's fourth-seeded Amy Fritz 7-5, 6-4 -- will be, too.

"I feel ready physically," Abbes said. "Today wasn't a very long match and the weather wasn't very hot, so I feel good."

Also in the quarterfinals, Georgia Gwinnett's second-seeded Valeria Podda defeated Indiana Wesleyan's Katie Wilson 7-6, 6-0, and Oklahoma Baptist's third-seeded Anastasiya Baranova beat Ivana Vlakic of Concordia (Calif.) 6-3, 6-4.

The finals are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

DWIGHT FLOYD: Have FAMU Students Gone AWOL?

Dwight Floyd
Commentary

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Though I am an avid supporter of Florida A&M University, I don’t attend many of the formal events. This school year I attended most of the home volleyball games, all the home football games, and I even attended the 2014 FAMU Sports Hall of FAME banquet. Usually when I show up at an event I find myself asking where the young people are and why aren’t they present?

For us die-hards so much is about history. We saw Jake Gaither when FAMU football was at its finest. We remember basketball’s coach Olgesby, Bullet Bob Hayes, and even the football and baseball wins against Miami. We believe that every young Rattler should have thorough knowledge of FAMU’s strong history as we yearn to return to those days of glory. Problem is we yearn so much for past glory that we may be standing in the way of future success.

CONTINUE READING

TSU Freshmen Rank 24th In The Nation

NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- The Tennessee State men’s golf team boasts the 24th ranked freshmen class in the country according to Golfstat.com. The combination of Jermey Fultz (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Andy Stout (Manchester, Tenn.) has teamed for a 73.50 average and a Relative Strength rating of 208.953.

 

“I can’t say I am surprised by their performance,” Coach Parrish McGrath said. “This is what I expected when I brought them to TSU.”

 

The Tigers are the lone Ohio Valley Conference program to currently be ranked in the Freshman Top 25.

 

The University of Nevada holds down the top spot and is followed by North Carolina, Wake Forest, Southern California and SMU. Rounding out the Top 10 were, Northwestern, Oregon, Illinois, California and Southern Utah.

 

Fultz has claimed two top 20 finishes on the young season, while Stout earned a spot in the top-5 at the Black College Hall of Fame Tournament. Earlier in the week, Stout placed one spot ahead of Fultz as they finished 12th and 13th, respectively.

 

Stout ranks eighth in the OVC, tied with senior James Stepp, with a 72.8 average. Fultz is tied for 11th in the conference at 73.1.

 

”I’m glad they have been able to make the transition to the collegiate level,” said McGrath. “I believe it is going to beginning of many accolades that for these two young gentlemen.”

 

The Tigers are third as a team with a 292.5 average, behind UT Martin (290.8) and Eastern Kentucky (291.1). Defending conference champions, Jacksonville State, has posted a 279.0 average in three rounds played, two shy of the minimum number of rounds to be ranked in the OVC.

 

“They have definitely been a spark for the rest of the team,” McGrath stated. “The newcomers have helped motivate the squad to increase their game. We look at things with a new attitude when it comes to the teams we feel we can compete against.”

 

TSU returns to action on Monday, Oct. 20, at the F&M Bank APSU Intercollegiate to be held in Hopkinsville, Ky.

 

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

XU's Abbes earns another No.1 seeding, plays Thursday

NOUR ABBES

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis standout Nour Abbes is seeded first in the NAIA singles bracket of the USTA / ITA Small College Championships and will play her opening match Thursday.

Abbes, 26-0 in singles during her XU career, will play Adelaide Wood of Northwood (Fla.) at 8:30 a.m. EDT at Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, S.C. Semifinal matches will start at 10:30 a.m. Friday, followed by the championship at 8:30 a.m. Saturday. All eight NAIA singles players are guaranteed three matches.

Abbes, a sophomore from Tunis, Tunisia, qualified automatically after beating Georgia Gwinnett's Valeria Podda 6-3, 6-2 on Sept. 28 in the South Regional Championships at XU Tennis Center. Podda received an at-large bid and is seeded second. Abbes and Podda were seeded 1-2 at the South Regional.

The other national seeds are No. 3 Anastasiya Baranova of Oklahoma Baptist and No. 4 Amy Fritz of Evangel.

"Nour is fast, strong, relentless and can hit every shot in the book," XU coach Alan Green said. "It's very hard to break her will. If she gets down, she'll get back pretty quickly."

Abbes, 9-0 in singles in two fall tournaments, said she never anticipated her success. "I've just tried to work hard and take one match at a time," Abbes said. "I never see far, far ahead. But I have enjoyed the responsibility. When you keep winning, you have something to prove the next time."

The NAIA bracket winner will join the NCAA Division II, Division III and junior / community college winners in a Sunday playoff to earn a wild card into the USTA / ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships in November.

This is the fourth time in four years that Xavier qualified for the National Small College Championships. In 2011, Loic Didavi and Zach Taylor placed third in NAIA men's doubles, and Didavi was fifth in singles. Last year in women's doubles, Kourtney Howell and Brion Flowers placed third.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

https://twitter.com/xulagold
https://www.facebook.com/xulagold 

New Hampton U. coordinator Henry acclimates, prepares for Thursday night game

COURTESY HAMPTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

HAMPTON, Virginia  -- Whether it's faith or fortune, Hampton University's football staff overcame a potentially taxing situation and heads into the heart of its conference schedule fully stocked.

Defensive coordinator Kenny Phillips, a longtime friend and mentor to head coach Connell Maynor, was forced to take a leave of absence to address health concerns recently.

Coincidentally, Tremayne Henry, a defensive coach Maynor knows and respects, was available after he and head coach Michael Costa were fired from St. Augustine's following the team's opener last month in a dispute with the administration.

"We needed a coach and he was available," Maynor said. "Everything happens for a reason. It's not easy replacing Coach Phillips and it's a tough situation, but Coach Henry's been very good for us. We're fortunate to have him."

CONTINUE READING