Gold Rush Ranked Sixth in NAIA for Fifth Consecutive Time

JORDAN HARRELL

NEW ORLEANS — You've seen this before: Xavier University of Louisiana is No. 6 in the NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

It's the fifth consecutive poll that the Gold Rush (12-7) hold that ranking. It's nothing new for the XU men, who spent five consecutive polls at No. 9 in 2012 and five in a row at No. 24 in 2008.

Xavier isn't the only top-10 team that hasn't moved lately. Georgia Gwinnett, Embry-Riddle (Fla.) and Lindsey Wilson have ranked 1-2-5 in all seven polls this season.

The XU men are in the top 25 for the 66th consecutive time — that streak began April 4, 2007 — and in the top 10 for the 36th consecutive time.

The NAIA will unveil new rankings at 4 p.m. CDT Monday, then announce one hour later the 24 qualifiers for the NAIA National Championships at Mobile, Ala. Xavier has no remaining duals before the bracket announcement, and the Gold Rush likely will receive one of nine at-large bids. The national tournament will be played May 12-16.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
First-place votes in parentheses -- records through April 26

RANK PREVIOUS SCHOOL W-L POINTS
1 1 Georgia Gwinnett (13) 12-2 343
2 2 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 18-3 329
3 3 Vanguard (Calif.) 25-1 320
4 4 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) 19-5 313
5 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 19-1 299
6 6 Xavier (La.) 12-7 288
7 7 Northwestern Ohio 18-5 277
8 9 San Diego Christian (Calif.) 14-7 263
9 10 William Carey (Miss.) 13-6 257
10 11 Concordia (Calif.) 12-9 241
11 12 Coastal Georgia 11-7 229
12 13 Northwood (Fla.) 10-2 215
13 13 Westmont (Calif.) 10-14 204
14 8 Bethany (Kan.) 11-1 186
15 17 Dalton State (Ga.) 10-7 183
16 16 Graceland (Iowa) 12-3 174
17 25 McPherson (Kan.) 16-5 170
18 19 Campbellsville (Ky.) 15-5 165
19 15 Belhaven (Miss.) 16-4 155
20 18 Oklahoma Baptist 10-7 139
21 RV Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 20-7 116
22 RV Reinhardt (Ga.) 11-3 99
23 20 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 4-10 94
24 23 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 12-6 84
25 23 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 6-7 77
Others Receiving Votes: Davenport (Mich.) 52; Tennessee Wesleyan 51; Indiana Wesleyan 49; Aquinas (Mich.) 35; Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 34; Marian (Ind.) 17; Middle Georgia State 4; Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) 4; Biola (Calif.) 3; St. Thomas (Fla.) 3; Asbury (Ky.) 3.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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ASU Golden Rams defeat Stillman to win SIAC championship

Columbia, South Carolina -- Sophomore Jeremy Arrington recorded three hits and two RBIs to lead the Albany State Golden Rams to 2015 SIAC Baseball Championship with a 9-5 victory over Stillman College. With the win, ASU wins its first SIAC title since 2010.

The Golden Rams, who started the season with a 1-16 overall record, improve to 20-32 overall. Albany State receives an automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA Regional Playoffs, which will be held May 14-17. Opponents and sites will be determined on May 10.

Stillman, winners of the last four SIAC championships, ends its season at 14-21.

Albany State opened its scoring in the top of the second inning when Arrington's single scored Hector Carrasquillo, who smashed a double to get on base. Ryan Latner hit a single of his own to send Arrington to the plate, and the Golden Rams led 2-0. Stillman scored its first run in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit to 2-1.

In the third inning, Arrington smashed a double to score Carrasquillo to increase the Golden Rams' edge to 3-1. Arrington then scored on a Tiger error, and ASU held a 4-1 advantage. Stillman answered in the bottom of the inning once again, scoring two runs to bring the score to 4-3.

Albany State got a little breathing room in the top of the fourth. Jonatan Galan nailed a single to left field, and Emmanuel Santos went home for the score. ASU led 5-3 until a Stillman run in the bottom of the sixth inning brought the score back within one at 5-4.

In the top of the seventh inning, Galan scored on an error by the Stillman catcher for a 6-4 lead. The Tigers answered in the same stanza with another run, and the score stood at 6-5.

The eighth inning featured the play of the game. Golden Rams had two outs, but Stillman had a runner at third ready to tie the game. The Tigers' Pablo De Armas belted a hit over the second base. Ryan Latner threw his body in front of the ball and flipped it to Terrance Worthy to get Albert Rafael out at second base.

That one play sparked Albany State for the final inning. After Worthy hit a double, Carrasquillo followed with a single to send him home. Two batters later, Sable Gilliard belted a two-run double to give his team a 9-5 advantage and provide insurance runs. The Golden Rams recorded three straight outs in the bottom of the stanza to secure the title.

Latner, Santos and Carrasquillo each had two hits for the Golden Rams. Gilliard added two RBIs. Cullen Coulter was the winning pitcher, and Sahir Fersobe was credited with the save.

ASU collected 12 hits with only one error.

Galan was named the Most Valuable Player for the tournament. Outfielder Reise McDaniel and pitcher DeMarkus Green were also named to the all-tournament team.

2015
SIAC Baseball All-Tournament Team
Tuskegee Danny Barnes
Claflin Reginald Rogers
Benedict David White Jr.
Miles Justin Bartley
Miles Justin Langdale
Stillman Hunter Hood
Stillman Paul Winterbottom
Albany State DeMarkus Green
Albany State Reise McDaniel
Albany State Jonatan Galan (Most Valuable Player)

COURTESY ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Gold Nuggets No. 5 in NAIA After Climbing Two Places

CARMEN NELSON
5'-7"Senior
Hometown: Jonesboro, Georgia

NEW ORLEANS — For the first time since March 3, Xavier University of Louisiana made a move in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Gold Nuggets are No. 5 after climbing two places Tuesday.

The Gold Nuggets (15-9) passed Embry-Riddle (Fla.) and Brenau, both of whom lost to lower-ranked NAIA opponents since the previous poll. Xavier's only dual match since March 31 was a Sunday loss at West Florida, ranked eighth in NCAA Division II. The Nuggets closed March with four consecutive road victories against NAIA teams ranked 11-24.

Embry-Riddle remained sixth, and Brenau — a 5-4 neutral-site winner Feb. 23 against Xavier — fell from third to eighth. Xavier had spent the previous four polls at No. 7 after ranking third in the season's first two polls.

The XU women are in the top 25 for the 28th consecutive time and in the top 10 for the 22nd consecutive time.

The NAIA will unveil new rankings at 4 p.m. CDT Monday, then announce one hour later the 24 qualifiers for the NAIA National Championships at Mobile, Ala. Xavier has no remaining duals before the bracket announcement, and the Nuggets likely will receive one of nine at-large bids. The national tournament will be played May 12-16.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Poll
First-place votes in parentheses -- records through April 26

RANK PREVIOUS SCHOOL W-L POINTS
1 1 Georgia Gwinnett (11) 8-6 342
2 2 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (2) 19-4 333
3 4 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 15-7 317
4 5 SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 14-4 308
5 7 Xavier (La.) 15-9 301
6 6 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 13-5 283
7 18 William Carey (Miss.) 12-7 278
8 3 Brenau (Ga.) 12-5 266
9 8 Northwood (Fla.) 8-6 263
10 12 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) 21-2 237
11 14 Concordia (Calif.) 12-11 223
12 10 Oklahoma Baptist 11-7 204
12 9 Arizona Christian 22-2 204
14 15 Northwestern Ohio 17-6 198
15 16 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 7-12 197
16 13 Evangel (Mo.) 10-3 196
17 19 Vanguard (Calif.) 8-16 147
18 20 Cumberland (Tenn.) 12-8 145
19 17 Graceland (Iowa) 8-3 142
20 11 Westmont (Calif.) 13-9 136
21 21 Davenport (Mich.) 16-10 113
22 RV LSU-Alexandria (La.) 10-2 107
23 22 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 16-7 106
24 24 Southeastern (Fla.) 12-5 94
25 23 Coastal Georgia 9-7 86

Others Receiving Votes: Indiana Wesleyan 67, Aquinas (Mich.) 35, St. Thomas (Fla.) 31, Missouri Valley 28, Campbellsville (Ky.) 24, SCAD Atlanta (Ga.) 18, McPherson (Kan.) 18, Marian (Ind.) 16, Reinhardt (Ga.) 3

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Xavier honors its student-athletes at annual awards banquet

NEW ORLEANS — Eight Xavier University of Louisiana student-athletes, including seniors Chinedu Echebelem (women's volleyball), Kwame Jackson (men's cross country) and Catherine Fakler (women's track and field), received most valuable player awards Monday evening during XU's 2014-15 athletics awards banquet at the University Center.

     

The event honored all nine XU teams.
     

The other MVPs were Whitney Gathright and Donyeah Mayfield in women's basketball, Christopher August in men's track and field, Hannah Finnegan in women's cross country, Kyle Montrel in men's tennis and Nour Abbes in women's tennis. Men's basketball does not pick an MVP, but seniors Sydney Coleman and Anthony Goode were presented the Rock Award for resiliency.
     

Senior student-athletes and managers received watches.
    

 Here are all the winners of major awards:

     Women's Volleyball
     Offensive Player of the Year:  Claudia Haywood
     Defensive Player of the Year:  Darian Harris
     Coach's Award:  Jodi Hill
     Scholar-Athlete Award:  Ralitsa Hadzhistoyanova
     Most Valuable Player:  Chinedu Echebelem
     Most Improved:  Jada Broussard

     Women's Basketball
     Best Offensive Player:  Whitney Gathright
     Best Defensive Player:  Emoni Harvey
     Most Improved:  Trana Hopkins
     Most Valuable Player:  (tie) Whitney Gathright and Donyeah Mayfield
     Academic Award:  Alesha Smith

     Men's Basketball
     Most Improved:  Gary Smith
     Best Rebounder:  Jarvis Thibodeaux
     Assist Leader:  Morris Wright
     Student-Athlete of the Year:  Jarvis Thibodeaux
     Rock Award:  (tie) Sydney Coleman and Anthony Goode

     Men's Cross Country
     Freshman of the Year:  Xaiver Latting
     Most Improved:  Christopher August
     Hardest Worker:  Christopher August
     Most Valuable Player:  Kwame Jackson

     Men's Track and Field
     Freshman of the Year:  Joseph Moses III
     Most Improved:  Langston Adams
     Hardest Worker:  Joseph Moses III
     Most Valuable Player:  Christopher August

     Women's Cross Country
     Freshman of the Year:  Carlie Calais
     Most Improved:  Hannah Finnegan
     Hardest Worker:  Catherine Fakler
     Most Valuable Player:  Hannah Finnegan

     Women's Track and Field
     Freshman of the Year:  Clarke Allen
     Most Improved:  Chelsea James
     Hardest Worker:  Clarke Allen
     Most Valuable Player:  Catherine Fakler

     Women's Tennis
     Scholar-Athlete:  Jordyn Goody
     Newcomer of the Year:  Caroline Vernet
     Most Improved:  Carmen Nelson
     Coach's Award:  Carmen Nelson
     Sportsmanship:  Nour Abbes
     Most Valuable Player:  Nour Abbes

     Men's Tennis
     Scholar-Athlete:  Jeremiah Capdeville
     Newcomer of the Year:  Manav Chakma
     Most Improved:  Tushar Mandlekar
     Coach's Award:  Kevin Chaouat
     Sportsmanship:  Tushar Mandlekar
     Most Valuable Player:  Kyle Montrel
 

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

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Jay Butler Named Head Men's Basketball Coach at VUU

RICHMOND, Virginia  -- Lester "Jay" Butler, Jr., was named the 10th Head Coach in the history of Virginia Union University men's basketball at a press conference at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28, in the lecture hall of the L. Douglas Wilder Library on the VUU campus in Richmond, Virginia.



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SC State To face Duke in First-Round of NCAA Tennis Championships

NCAA MEN'S TENNIS BRACKET

DURHAM, North Carolina — The South Carolina State Bulldogs will play host to 10th seed Duke, in the opening round of the 64-team championship field of the NCAA Division I Team Tennis Championship Saturday, May 8-9 at the Amber Tennis Stadium.

The Bulldogs (14-4) earned their 8th consecutive and 13th overall appearance to the NCAA Tennis Championship, while capturing the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) regular season title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA field.

The Blue Devils (22-6) have qualified for the last 23 NCAA Championships and will host their sixth straight regional. Duke owns an all-time NCAA Championship record of 43-24 and has advanced as far as the quarterfinals, reaching the round of eight in 1993, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2012, and 2013.

The two teams have met only once in school history, with Duke winning 4-0 (May, 13, 2005) at the NCAA Regional in Durham.

The first match begins Friday, May 8, between Tennessee and Stanford at 10 a.m. (EST), followed by Duke and South Carolina State at 1 p.m. The winners of the two matches will face each other Saturday, May 9, at 1 p.m.

The 16 regional champions will head to the Hurd Tennis Center in Waco, Texas, to compete for the NCAA Men's Tennis Title May 14-19.

All matches at the Duke regional will be streamed live for free on the Blue Devil Network. For more information go to www.goduke.com .

COURTESY SOUTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION 

NY Urban League Cancels 2015 Football Classic

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- The New York Urban League has informed officials at Morgan State University that the scheduled New York Urban League Classic between the Bears and the Howard University Bison has been canceled.

The game, originally scheduled and marketed by the schools for Sept. 26 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ., will not be played this year.

Officials from the New York Urban League told the schools that they hope a 2016 edition will be played, in a letter dated April 4 and distributed to Morgan State alumni.

This would have been the 43rd edition of the game featuring Howard University against Morgan State. The NYUL Classic website reports that "since its inception", proceeds from the game have helped raise over $20 million in scholarships awarded to nearly 4,000 college bound students.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has ruled that the return to campus of this game will be at Howard University's Greene Stadium.

2015 MSU Football Schedule

Date		Opponent	Location	Time
9/5/2015		Air Force Academy	USAF Academy, CO
9/12/2015		Illinois State University	Normal, IL	6:30 p.m.
9/19/2015		Virginia-Lynchburg		4 p.m.
9/26/2015	*	Howard University	Washington, DC
10/3/2015	*	Delaware State University	Dover, DE
10/10/2015	*	Savannah State University		4 p.m.
Homecoming
10/17/2015	*	Hampton University		1 p.m.
10/24/2015	*	North Carolina Central University	Durham, NC
11/7/2015	*	Bethune-Cookman University	Daytona Beach, FL
11/14/2015	*	Florida A&M Universi		1 p.m.
11/21/2015	*	Norfolk State University		1 p.m.

COURTESY MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Perdue Stadium to host MEAC baseball championships

SALISBURY, Maryland -- The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Department of Athletics has partnered with the Delmarva Shorebirds to host the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Baseball Championships starting this season and continuing through 2017. The partnership will have Division I championship baseball in Salisbury, Maryland, for the next three years. This year's championship will start Wednesday, May 13 and runs through Saturday May 16 with a possible rain date of Sunday, May 17.

"We think this will be an exciting event for all of Delmarva," said UMES Director of Athletics Keith Davidson. "Teaming up with a premier organization, like the Delmarva Shorebirds, at one of the greatest minor league baseball stadiums in the nation, Arthur W. Perdue Stadium, in an area that loves baseball, like the Eastern Shore, seems like a winning combination for everyone involved."

2015 MEAC Baseball Ticket Flyer 



Six teams will vie for the conference title and an automatic berth to the NCAA Division I Championship field, earning a spot in a regional series. The top-three seeds from the conference's northern and southern division will earn a spot in the championship which will feature at least 10 games over the four days.

The northern division includes Coppin State, Delaware State, Norfolk State and the host UMES. The southern division includes Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, North Carolina A&T State, North Carolina Central and Savannah State.

The championships begin on Wednesday with four games. The second and third seeds from each division match up in the first two games, starting at 9 a.m. Then the winners of those two games play the top seeds from the two divisions in the night games.

The tournament is a double elimination format. Thursday features three games, starting at 9 a.m. while Friday will serve as the semi-finals, starting at 10 a.m. The championship game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and will feature a second game if necessary due to the double elimination format.

Tickets are $8.00 per day or just $25.00 for all four days. Parking is free. To purchase tickets go online at umestickets.com , call 410-621-3311, or mail in the form here. Tickets can also be purchased at the door each day.

UMES will also be hosting a discount promotion each day. Wednesday is slated as Little League night. All youth that participate in little league play or any affiliated youth sports will be admitted free of charge thanks to Atlantic Stand of Ocean City, Md. Thursday is Family Day where buying one ticket gets up to four more family members in for free. Friday's Military Day with all members of the military, active, reserve and retired free admission. In addition, all first responders, police and firefighters will also be admitted free.

Saturday's championship day is highlighted as Negro League Day. All day long, children in eighth grade or younger will receive free admission. The Negro League Day will feature onsite exhibits and information about Negro League Baseball, including various players who played in the leagues from Delmarva. All children who attend will have the opportunity to talk with players and see the display, then see the MEAC championship finals, pitting two of the best HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) going head to head for an NCAA berth. The Eastern Shore Baseball Hall of Fame, located in the stadium, will also be open that day, showing the Shore's contributions to the game.

UMES is also encouraging their faculty, staff and students to attend the event. Anyone who presents a UMES ID at the time of purchase will be able to buy one ticket and get one free each day of the MEAC Baseball Championships. The offer is also extended to all Salisbury University and Wor-Wic Community College students, faculty and staff.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE SPORTS INFORMATION

Kansas Returns to Hoglund Ballpark to Face UAPB

LAWRENCE, Kansas --  Coming off the first road-series win of the season at West Virginia, the Kansas baseball team returns home to Lawrence and Hoglund Ballpark to face the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, Wednesday night, April 29, at 6 p.m.

The midweek tilt will mark the first meeting between Kansas and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) foe, but the Jayhawks are 11-0 all-time against SWAC teams, all of which have been played in the Ritch Price era.

KU will send freshman Brandon Johnson to the mound for the start against the Golden Lions, his third of the season. Though the righty has yet to earn his first collegiate win, the Jayhawks have won both games in which he started. In his last starting nod, the righty worked three innings, allowing only one earned run to Wichita State, as the Jayhawks went on to beat the Shockers, 11-6.

"You look at the first two months of the season and we really struggled on the mound," Price said. "There is no way of sugar-coating that. We swung the bats well and played good defense and we needed our young pitchers to develop. In the last month, they have gotten better and I hope they continue to take those strides and keep improving."

Kansas vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Date:	April 29, 2015
Time:	6 p.m.
Ballpark:	Hoglund Ballpark
Location:	Lawrence, Kan.
TV:	ESPN3
Audio:	Baseball Hawk Talk
Radio:	Jayhawk Radio Network
Live Stats:	Kansas Live Stats
Notes:	Game Notes

Sophomore catcher Michael Tinsley is batting .333 on the season and leads the squad with 34 RBIs, but the starter has really seen success in true midweek games this season, batting .438 in the nine contests, including 10 RBIs and seven runs scored.

The Golden Lions visit Lawrence on a three-game win streak and have scored at least seven runs in those games.

Leading the way for UAPB is Andre Davis, who has been a factor both at the dish and on the mound this season. Davis leads the team with a .378 average and 39 RBIs, and has also recorded four saves and has picked up two wins on the hill.

In midweek games this season, the Jayhawks are 5-4 and have allowed 75 runs in the contests, which equates to 8 and one-third runs per game for the opponents, so a key for Kansas will be to prevent UAPB from getting extra-base hits and getting into scoring position early in the inning. The Golden Lions have 88 extra-base hits this season, which is over 25 percent of their hit total.

"They can hit for power," Price said. "We have to limit their bats by staying out of hitter's counts and not giving them good pitches to hit."

The game can be seen live on ESPN3 via WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN mobile app. The game can also be heard on the Jayhawk Radio Network via KUAthletics.com/radio or on the offical "Kansas Jayhawks" mobile app.

The Jayhawks follow up the midweek game with a three-game home series versus Baylor this weekend with the first game slated for Friday, May 1 at 6 p.m.

KUAthletics.com:  The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS