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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Chalk up another sports conference moving events out of North Carolina in response to House Bill 2: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association said Friday that it will relocate eight out of 10 sports championships from the state.
The signature event next year – the 2017 women’s and men’s basketball championship tournaments – will remain in Charlotte, however.
“Relocation would not be in the best interest of the membership and its student-athletes at this time,” the CIAA said in a statement, also citing time constraints and contractual obligations.
The events being moved are men’s and women’s cross country, football, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and women’s tennis.
“The CIAA’s transition, beginning with the relocation of eight championships, is the first step in demonstrating that the conference does not support laws which prevent communities from effectively protecting student-athletes and fans,” the conference said. “The Board will continue its discussion on hosting future championships in North Carolina and whether the tournament will remain after 2017.”
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pennsylvania — Winston-Salem State ran over, around and through Lincoln University on Saturday night in a 51-10 win at Lincoln University Stadium.
The Rams took command in the third quarter when they went on a 92-yard drive that ended with Te’Vaughn Hurse scoring from 6 yards out. Will Johnson’s extra point made it 30-10 with less than five minutes left in the third quarter and the blowout was almost complete.
Coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams said he was proud of the way the Rams battled back after a slow start.
“We didn’t get off to a good start in the first quarter and with Lincoln being at home they had something to do with that,” Boulware said by phone after the game. “But we got our running game going and really took the pressure off (quarterback) A.J. (Nocciolo), but the offensive line was really on point tonight.”
Running back Xavier Quick scored from 1 yard out later in the third quarter to make it 37-10 after Johnson’s point-after attempt was good.
TUSKEGEE, Alabama -- Facing what many would seem an insurmountable deficit in the fourth quarter, the 11th-ranked Tuskegee University Golden Tigers pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in school history.
Trailing by 16 with just over nine minutes to play, Tuskegee scored 21 unanswered points in a span of 4:23 to pull out a 21-16 victory over 21st-ranked UNC-Pembroke at Cleve L. Abbott Memorial Alumni Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Tuskegee (5-0) for the first time 2008, when the team reeled off 10 consecutive victories to start the year, trimmed the lead eight when Jayjerien Craig capped off a 12-play, 84-yard drive with an eight yard run down the right sideline with 8:32 to play in the contest. The two-point conversion was good when Craig took the pitch left and ran into the end zone to cut the deficit to 16-8.
Needing a stop and another score, the Golden Tigers turned to the defense as Kalil Gray and Osband Thompson converged on UNC Pembroke (4-1) quarterback Patrick O'Brien. The ball was stripped from O'Brien on the sack, and Thompson ripped away from him on the bottom of the pile with 8:20 to play in the quarter to set up Tuskegee on the 18-yard line.
Kevin Lacey hit Desmond Reece on the very next play on an 18-yard pass in the corner of the end zone to trim the 16-14 with 8:13 to play. The two-point conversion was no good as the pass was dropped at the one-yard line, but the Golden Tigers trimmed the deficit to two in a matter of 19 seconds.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Arkansas' recent slide in Little Rock came to an end Saturday.
Austin Allen threw three touchdown passes and No. 20 Arkansas unleashed a big-play attack to smack Alcorn State 52-10 before a crowd of 46,988 at War Memorial Stadium.
Arkansas (4-1) ended a three-game losing streak in Little Rock by starting fast and pushing through a sluggish second quarter to win its first game against a SWAC opponent.
Rawleigh Williams and Devwah Whaley ran for more than 100 yards each and receiver Jared Cornelius had his second consecutive 100-yard game with four catches for 106 yards, including scoring grabs of 29 and 35 yards as part of the Razorbacks' 24-point first-quarter onslaught.
The victory improved Arkansas' record at War Memorial Stadium to 150-60-4.
"It was great ending our losing streak in Little Rock," Cornelius said. "The fans deserve CONTINUE READING
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee State kicker Lane Clark's record-setting performance Saturday, which helped the Tigers rally for a 34-30 win over UT Martin, earned him the Ohio Valley Conference Specialist of the Week.
Clark, a junior from Hays, Kan., broke the TSU record for field goal distance twice during the game.
His 54-yarder midway through the second quarter erased the previous record set in 1999 by Seth Goodowens against Jackson State and trimmed the UT Martin lead to 16-10.
Clark then added a 57-yard field goal with 7:27 left in the game, which put TSU up 27-23.
“I was nervous; It was my first time making a big kick like that," Clark said. "We practice it every day..I can’t say that it felt just like practice because it was in a game, but I knew I had it in me. I knew the big guys up front were going to protect me and protect the holder and it just worked out.”
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State may have found an answer for one of its biggest weaknesses.
The Tigers didn’t receive much production from their running backs over the first three games, but true freshman Jordan Johnson has broken out the previous two weeks. He scored Jackson State’s first rushing touchdown of the season on Sept. 24 and had 18 carries for 114 yards in Saturday’s 16-14 home win against Mississippi Valley State.
“He’s playing with a great deal of confidence,” coach Tony Hughes said. “(His 6.3 yards per carry against MVSU is) an outstanding effort. He runs hard, he finds a hole, and he shows a lot of maturity. I’m glad he’s here, and I’m glad he’s on our football team.”
Johnson rushed for 1,905 yards and 25 touchdowns during his senior season at Terry and signed with Jackson State despite receiving late interest from Alabama-Birmingham. He finished with at least 100 rushing yards in nine of his 12 games last year.
The production impressed Hughes throughout his recruitment of Johnson.
SIAC
Tuskegee 21, UNC-Pembroke 16
Albany State 35, Miles 33
Clark Atlanta 37, Morehouse 36
Lincoln (Mo.)12, Lane 9
Alderson-Broaddus 33, Fort Valley State 9
Gardner-Webb 45, Benedict 0
Valdosta State 48, Kentucky State 10
OTHER HBCUs
Arizona Christian 34, Langston 10
Bacone 35, Texas College 26
East Stroudsburg 54, Cheyney 12
Virginia-Wise 39, West Virginia State 37
CIAA
Chowan 47, Johnson C. Smith 14
Elizabeth City State 28, Shaw 21
Bowie State 37, Fayetteville State 3
Kentucky Wesleyan 21, Central State (Ohio) 7
Virginia Union 50, Saint Augustine's 21
Virginia State 47, Livingstone 0
Winston-Salem State 51, Lincoln (Pa.) 10
SWAC
Alabama State 41, Arkansas Pine Bluff 21
Arkansas 52, Alcorn State 10
Texas Southern 34, Alabama A&M 31
Grambling State 36, Prairie View A&M 16
Jackson State 16, Mississippi Valley 14
MEAC Florida A&M 19, Savannah State 14
North Carolina Central 31, Bethune-Cookman 14
Morgan State 20, Delaware State 17
Howard 33, Norfolk State 28
North Carolina A&T 31, Hampton 9
DALLAS, Texas --Grambling State scored 36 unanswered points to take a 36-16 win over rival Prairie View A&M at the 2016 State Fair Classic Saturday.
The win at the Cotton Bowl extends Grambling's winning streak in the series to three games and gave the Tigers (3-1, 3-0) an edge over Prairie View (3-2, 3-1) in the Southwestern Athletic Conference's West Division.
Prairie View A&M came out of the gates with a lot of energy after admitting to bitter disappointment after last year's 70-54 loss to Grambling at the Cotton Bowl. Will Skinner sacked Grambling QB DeVante Kincade in the end zone for a safety on the second play from scrimmage. The Panthers scored touchdowns on both their ensuing possessions.
"We had to adjust to their speed," Grambling head coach Broderick Fobbs said afterwards.
And adjust they did. Prairie View failed to score after Dawonya Tucker's 33-yard touchdown run with 5:08 left in the first quarter.
Kincade, a Dallas Skyline product, helped calm Grambling State down and get back into rhythm. He hit receiver Chad Williams for a 13-yard touchdown pass to get the Tigers on the scoreboard with 2:42 remaining in the first quarter. Soon after, Kincade scrambled 11 yards into the end zone himself to draw Grambling within two points. CONTINUE READING
TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Florida A&M postgame celebration quite like what I saw Saturday night.
The Rattlers defeated Savannah State – a team that has never won a MEAC road game – 19-14 at home in front of a crowd of 16,789 (according to FAMU sports info). The game was sloppy at times, and FAMU’s defense was saved late by an interception from Tallahassee native Jacques Bryant.
That interception came in the end zone and put an end to a 12-play drive that had the Rattlers reeling.
The circumstances of the win didn’t matter. The Rattlers won. Head coach Alex Wood was drenched in Gatorade. The team rushed the field. The band played “S.O.S” like it was homecoming. Players danced.
And for the first time since… probably last year after homecoming, head coach Wood was smiling during a postgame press conference.
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida — For the second time this season, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats found themselves in a significant weather delay at Municipal Stadium.
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, this one didn't end in cancellation.
Malcolm Bell threw for 295 yards and two scores, and Ramone Simpson ran for 120 yards and a touchdown as North Carolina Central cruised to a 31-14 win over Bethune-Cookman (0-4) in a game that was delayed nearly three hours because of lightning.
"We have to learn to finish," B_CU head coach Terry Sims said. "We had plenty of opportunities to finish the football game and we just didn't get it done.
Malcolm Bell threw for 295 yards and two scores, and Ramone Simpson ran for 120 yards and a touchdown as North Carolina Central cruised to a 31-14 win over Bethune-Cookman (0-4) in a game that was delayed nearly three hours because of lightning.
"We have to learn to finish," B_CU head coach Terry Sims said. "We had plenty of opportunities to finish the football game and we just didn't get it done.
NEW ORLEANS — Birthday celebrant Kaelan Temple and her Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball teammates blew out the candles on Talladega Saturday.
With five kills on five swings, Temple scored all but one of the Gold Nuggets' final six points in a 25-19, 25-18, 25-22 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference victory against the Lady Tornadoes at the Convocation Center.
XULA (9-13, 6-0) won against a GCAC opponent for the 78th time in the last 79 matches (including tournaments) and snapped the five-match win streak — the longest in the GCAC this season — of Talladega (7-11, 3-3).
The Gold Nuggets will try to extend their overall win streak to three in a GCAC home match against Edward Waters at 1 p.m. Sunday.
Temple's late surge seemed out of the blue. Prior to the final nine rallies, the two-year letterwoman had four kills and 12 errors in 42 attacks this season. In the second set Temple produced two errors in three attacks.
"It was unexpected," Temple said. "I had been having issues with my shoulder. But I've been working really hard in rehab, and it was my birthday, so there was a little extra enthusiasm. I was able to pull through."
Talladega led 22-21 in the third after J'Lynn Jefferson and Carla Novaes combined for a block, but Temple responded with three kills, including the match clincher.
"Kaelan did not surprise me," XULA coach Hannah Lawing said. "When she's confident, she's capable of being successful at the net. She's really explosive. Some people see her as a defensive specialist, but I recruited her as an outside hitter. I saw her whale on balls in high school."
Temple's five kills equaled her career best, and she produced 10 digs to reach double figures for the sixth time this season.
No XULA player reached double-figure kills, but seven had four or more, led by Hasani Salaam with nine and Monet Fontaine and Taylor Ducros with six apiece. Three starters — Juliana Tomasoni (five kills, four digs), Tiffany Phillips (11 assists) and Kayla Jones (three digs) — did not play after the first set.
"We wanted to get people some playing time," Lawing said. "We've got depth, so why not use it?"
Phillips' replacement at setter, Terri Drake, responded with her first collegiate double-double: 20 assists and a career-high 12 digs. Brittanie Cockrell, playing for the first time in six matches, had a career-high-tying four kills. Ducros' six kills were one fewer than her career best.
XULA's Amanda Perry had a match-high 16 digs and reached double figures for the 20th time this season. The Gold Nuggets had a 73-61 advantage in digs.
Novaes, the GCAC Preseason Player of the Year, had 13 kills, 14 digs and four blocks. But she hit .182 in 44 attacks and finished below .200 for the fifth straight time against XULA. Novaes is hitting .135 (62 kills, 35 errors, 200 attacks) in six career matches against the Gold Nuggets — .234 against everyone else.
The Gold Nuggets hit .130 — their lowest ever in 24 matches against GCAC opponents at the Convocation Center — but limited Talladega to .065 and had a 44-26 advantage in kills. The Lady Tornadoes entered the match as a top-10 NAIA team in aces per set but served four, their second-fewest this season.
RICHMOND, Virginia -- William Stanback had scored three touchdowns in the Panthers two wins prior to facing St. Augustine’s.
On Saturday, it was Lavatiae Kelly’s turn.
Kelly caught three of Shawheem Dowdy’s five touchdown throws, Stanback rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth time this year while scoring twice, and Virginia Union moved to 2-0 in the CIAA with a 50-21 win over the Falcons in their second game at Hovey Field this season.
It was the Panthers third win in a row after playing three straight games on the road.
Kelly’s touchdown catches came from 16, 20 and 46 yards. He finished with eight catches and 100 receiving yards.
The 6-2 190-pound junior transfer from Tennessee State chuckled when asked if he has caught three touchdowns before.
ELIZABETH CITY, North Carolina -- Elizabeth City State quarterback Daquan Neal scored the eventual game-winning touchdown as the Vikings defeated Shaw 28-21 on Saturday at Roebuck Stadium.
The quarterback scampered into the end zone from 15 yards out with 6:43 remaining to give the Vikings the seven-point advantage.
Neal completed 21-of-27 passes for 201 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.
The junior quarterback added 45 rushing yards to give ECSU its first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association victory on the season.
“I thought that he did a better job of managing the football game,” ECSU coach Earnest Wilson said.
With the Vikings (2-3, 1-1 CIAA) up 21-14 early in the fourth quarter, Shaw (0-5, 0-2 CIAA) tied the game on a Darron Downing 16-yard touchdown pass to Rahim Winston with 10:19 to go. CONTINUE READING
NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Tennessee State University family from across the country traveled to Kean Hall Gymnasium to honor the late Edward Stanley Temple with a memorial service on Friday. Coach Temple, who passed away on Sept. 22 at the age of 89, coached the TSU women’s track and field team for over 40 years.
In addition to his duties with the Tigerbelles, Coach Temple served as the Head Coach of the United States Women’s Olympic Track and Field Team in the 1960 and 1964 games. He also led the U.S. at the Pan-American Games in 1959 and 1975. Coach Temple guided 40 TSU athletes to the Olympics, winning 27 Olympic medals. The Tigerbelles won 34 national titles (16 Indoor, 13 Outdoor, and 5 Junior Championships) during his time in Nashville.
Former TSU men’s track and field star Ralph Boston, who won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, presided over the service. Dr. Madeline Manning Mims, a Tigerbelle and Olympic gold medalist provided a powerful rendition of "How Great Thou Art".
A number of individuals paid tribute to Coach Temple with speeches during the ceremony. Among the speakers were:
- Dr. Glenda Glover, Tennessee State University President
- The Honorable Bill Haslam, Tennessee Governor
- The Honorable Megan Barry, Nashville Mayor
- Mr. Tracy Sundlun, Representing the United States Olympic Committee
- Ms. Terry Crawford, United States of America Track and Field Association Director of Coaching
- Mr. Christie Hauck, New Hope Academy
- Ms. Lucinda Williams Adams, Tigerbelle and Olympic Gold Medalist
- Ms. Edith McGuire Duvall, Tigerbelle and Olympic Gold Medalist
- Ms. Wyomia Tyus, Tigerbelle and Olympic Gold Medalist
- Ms. Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice, Tigerbelle and Olympic Gold Medalist
The memorial service also included musical selections by the tHope Academy Choir and Ms. Paula Chavis. Coach Temple’s daughter, Dr. Edwina R. Temple, gave a family appreciation on behalf of the Temple family.
TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- Senior quarterback Ronald Butler (Tallahassee, Fla.) orchestrated the two-minute drill to perfection, delivering a nine-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Smith (Memphis, Tenn.) with 18 seconds left to give the Tennessee State football team a 34-30 victory over UT Martin at Hale Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
TSU (4-0, 1-0 OVC) trailed UT Martin (2-3, 1-1 OVC) by a 30-27 margin when Butler and the offense got the ball back with 1:54 on the clock. Butler went 4-for-4 on the final drive capped by Smith’s second touchdown catch of the day. Butler finished 17-for-24 for 223 yards and three touchdowns in his first start of the season.
In UT Martin’s final drive, Terrell Bonds (Miami, Fla.) came up with his third interception of the season to seal the win. On the defensive side of the ball, Trevion Duncan (Houston, Texas) and Gabe Scott (Memphis, Tenn.) also had interceptions on the day.
Junior kicker Lane Clark (Hays, Kan.) hit the two longest field goals in TSU history. He nailed a 57-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, which was the longest in Division I this season. He also hit a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter. The previous school record was 53 yards set by Seth Goodowens versus Jackson State in 1999.
TSU will return to action on Oct. 8 with a road test at Eastern Illinois in Charleston, Ill. GAME NOTES: Official start time was 2:06 p.m…. Official attendance for the game was 10,001… Captains for TSU were Ronald Butler, Lane Clark, Chris Collins, Ebo Ogundeko, Thomas Burton… TSU won the coin toss and deferred to the second half… During the game, Lane Clark had the two longest field goals in TSU history. He hit a 57-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, which was the longest in Division I this season. He also hit a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter. The previous school record was 53 yards set by Seth Goodowens versus Jackson State in 1999… Gabe Scott and Trevion Duncan both secured interceptions in the game, marking the second game in a row TSU has had multiple picks… TSU held UT Martin scoreless during the second and third quarters. TSU has shut out its opponent in eight quarters through four games this season… TSU has scored 30 in more points in all four games this season… TSU leads the all-time series with UT Martin, 16-10.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Southern men's basketball coach Roman Banks is starting his sixth year as coach of the Jaguars when the team begins preseason practice Monday, but this will likely be the first, true “Year 2” he has had in Baton Rouge.
Three of Banks’ five years have been spent under NCAA sanctions, with the only exceptions being 2012-13 and 2015-16. It’s no coincidence Southern reached the NCAA tournament both of those years.
Banks thought the 2013-14 season could build on the previous year’s success, but a postseason ban handed down in January of that season negated whatever momentum the Jaguars had built.
As far as Banks can tell, Southern may finally get the season it missed out on.
“Our expectations now are where we were at in 2014,” he said. “(In 2014) we felt like we won and we had all the right guys and were starting to shape up and these guys are talented guys and nothing could happen. Now, we’re back to where we hope we can be in a good shape and be consistent.” CONTINUE READING
NORFOLK, Virginia --Trailing by 15 points early after one quarter, Howard scored 27 unanswered points and held off a late Norfolk State charge in a 33-28 Bison victory on Saturday afternoon at Dick Price Stadium. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Spartans (1-4, 0-2 MEAC), while Howard (1-4, 1-2) broke a seven-game losing streak dating to last October.
The Spartans jumped out to a 21-6 lead after the first quarter thanks to an impressive offensive display. Greg Hankerson accounted for all three NSU scores in the period, throwing touchdown passes of 64 yards to Marcus Taylor and 59 to George Wahee and also scoring on a 9-yard TD run in the opening period. Howard's only score came courtesy of an 8-yard blocked punt return for touchdown by Ibrahim Conte. NSU outgained the Bison 200-27 in the quarter.
But Howard controlled the middle quarters. Kyle Anthony scored on an 11-yard TD pass from Kalen Johnson to cut Howard's lead to 21-12 entering the half. In the third quarter, Anthony Philyaw and Da'Vaun Johnson both scored on 1-yard TD runs, capping drives of 71 and 72 yards, respectively, to give the Bison a 25-21 lead entering the fourth quarter. CONTINUE READING
GREENSBORO, North Carolina – There was a play in North Carolina A&T’s 31-9 MEAC football win over Hampton Thursday night at Aggie Stadium that explained Aggies senior running back Tarik Cohen’s rise to collegiate stardom while at the same time it was the catalyst that helped the Aggies pull away.
In front of a national television audience watching live on ESPNU, Tarik went for 256 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries. In the process, he added his name to two more N.C. A&T records. He broke Stoney Polite’s career rushing touchdown record of 41 and now stands alone with 44 rushing TDs. His third touchdown of the night went for 94 yards, breaking James White’s nearly 25-year record (89 yards) for longest run from scrimmage.
Cohen recorded his fifth 200-yard game and his sixth three-touchdown game. In fact, Cohen rushed for 204 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.
His second-half dominance started on the Aggies first drive of the second half with the Aggies leading 10-3. The Aggies (3-1, 1-0 MEAC) obtained possession thanks to a Jeremy Taylor interception that gave the Aggies the ball at their own 2-yard line. On 3rd-and-3 from the N.C. A&T 9, Tarik took the handoff, appeared to be headed for a loss thanks to the Pirates penetrating into the backfield. Yet, Cohen bounced his way off the initial defenders and slipped his way through a few more before finally breaking free for a 37-yard run that flipped the Aggies field position.
The run pretty much defines Cohen.
“I’d like to say that I was running kind of like how my personality is,” Cohen said about the play. “Even when everything is against me, I like to fight through and make things right. I told my whole team at the half that we were not really clicking as an offense, but we were going to just keep pushing and eventually things are going to happen.”
They certainly did after Cohen’s run. A pass interference call on the Pirates and a 12-yard reception by freshman Elijah Bell moved the Aggies closer to scoring. On 2nd-and-3 from the Pirates 15, Cohen again made one of his shifty moves to avoid a tackle before sprinting into the end zone for a touchdown and a 17-3 Aggies lead.
Cohen put more separation between the Aggies and Pirates to open the fourth quarter. After the Pirates (1-3, 1-1 MEAC) decided to go for it on a 4th-and-2 from their own 31. It didn’t work. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Kiaundric Richardson buried Hampton running back Yahkee Johnson for a 1-yard loss. On the next play, Cohen went off-tackle and raced down the sidelines for a 30-yard TD to put the Aggies ahead three touchdowns.
“I kind of felt like I wasn’t running to my full capability in the first half,” said Cohen. “I was tipping. I told my (offensive line) that I was trying to look for the big play too much and was being too patient. I told them at halftime that I was going to start hitting the first hole I see and run harder.”
Cohen ended his night by running through a big hole. Hampton drove the ball to the Aggies 3, but could not convert on a 4th-and-goal. The Aggies took over and two plays later Cohen was sprinting down the field toward a record-breaking 94-yard touchdown with a defender hopelessly trying to catch him. Cohen’s big run gave the Aggies a 31-3 advantage.
“I think Hampton is a football team that has made tremendous progress over the last couple of years, so it was a good win for our football team,” said N.C. A&T head coach Rod Broadway.
Hampton’s other problem besides Cohen was their inability to score touchdowns in the red zone. The Pirates made five trips inside the Aggies 20, but only came away with three points. It also didn’t help that the Pirates muffed the first punt of the game, giving the Aggies a 1st-and-goal at the 3 that led to a Lamar Raynard to Denzel Keyes touchdown reception.
Quarterback Jaylian Williamson did have a good night, completing 32 passes on 54 attempts for 388 yards and a touchdown. Williamson, however, did throw two interceptions including one in the red zone. His favorite target was Rashawn Proctor who had 12 grabs for 188 yards.
“We've been playing pretty good defense for a long time,” said Broadway. “Our number one principle is to stop the run. I don't care if you pass for 1,000 yards, if you can't run the ball on us, you're not going to beat us. It's going to be hard for a straight passing team to beat us. We gave up quite a few yards passing, but we kept the run contained and that made it hard on them inside the 10.”
Cohen was not the only player tampering with the record books. Keyes’ first-quarter touchdown reception was his 19th career TD catch, tying Craig Thompson. Raynard also a had a good night, throwing for 143 yards on 15-for-24 passing, one touchdown and no interceptions. The Aggies have another Thursday night game on ESPNU next week at Aggie Stadium as they host Norfolk State at 7:30 p.m. BOX SCORE
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS
NEW ORLEANS — Tiffany Phillips has done it again. For the fourth time in six opportunities this volleyball season, the Xavier University of Louisiana freshman has been chosen Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Setter of the Week. Phillips — from Gardena, Calif., and a graduate of Bishop Montgomery High School — averaged 9.13 assists and 2.38 digs per set in three XULA matches Sept. 19-25. She tied a XULA season record in a victory at Dillard with her 10th assist-dig double-double of the season — 34 assists and 11 digs. The 34 assists are her most in a three-set match. At Mobile she had a career-high six kills. Also at Dillard, Phillips was part of a defensive effort that limited Corneisja Harrison, who collected 52 kills in two matches the previous week, to five kills and minus-.057 hitting in 35 attacks. Phillips leads the GCAC through Tuesday's matches with 8.19 assists per set and is 40th in the NAIA in total assists with 549. Phillips leads XULA with 17 aces and is third on her team with 169 digs. Phillips is the seventh XULA freshman and the first in volleyball to win four GCAC weekly awards. Nour Abbes (women's tennis) won the most, six, in 2014. XULA (7-13, 4-0) will begin a three-match GCAC home stand Thursday against SUNO (4-8, 3-0) at 6 p.m. in the Convocation Center. The Gold Nuggets will play host to Talladega at 1 p.m. Saturday and Edward Waters at 1 p.m. Sunday.
NEW ORLEANS — Monet Fontaine had nine kills and hit a season-high-tying .500 Thursday to help Xavier University of Louisiana defeat SUNO 27-25, 25-19, 25-11 at the Convocation Center and maintain its lead in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball.
The Gold Nuggets (8-13, 5-0) are the only unbeaten team in the GCAC. SUNO (4-9, 3-1) is in second place.
Fontaine produced kills on eight consecutive attacks — her final three of the first set and all five of the second set. The sophomore scored XULA's next-to-last point of the first set — Cara Ford then clinched with an ace — and scored four of XULA's final five points of the second set on three kills and a shared block with Sarah Pitts-Groce.
Juliana Tomasoni had seven kills and a match-high three aces for the Gold Nuggets. Bria Moore had six kills and hit .455 — she raised her team-leading hitting percentage to .347 — and Terri Drake had five kills. Amanda Perry produced 10 digs to reach double figures for the 19th time in 21 matches, and Tiffany Phillips and Ralitsa Slanchev had nine digs apiece.
Moore, Pitts-Groce, Phillips and Fontaine had two blocks apiece. Phillips had 29 assists.
Sonja Backovic had 11 kills and nine digs for SUNO, Tyjah Greenup had 10 digs, and Ana Bobovic had three blocks.
The Gold Nuggets led 18-15 in the opening set, but three SUNO kills and three XULA attack errors gave SUNO a 22-21 lead. XULA led 16-8 in the second set before SUNO cut the deficit to 18-17. The third set never was in doubt after XULA scored the first four points and cruised to leads of 9-2 and 18-8. Tomasoni ended the match with a kill.
XULA outhit SUNO .212 to .096 and had advantages of 37-31 in kills and 7-2 in aces.
The Gold Nuggets will continue their GCAC home stand with 1 p.m. matches against Talladega on Saturday and Edward Waters on Sunday. Including conference tournaments, XULA has won 14 straight and 77 of its last 78 matches against the GCAC. BOX SCORE
WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Momentum and a favorable schedule have Winston-Salem State players in a good mood these days.
Fresh off a convincing 35-14 win over Virginia State, the Rams will hit the road with a historic game at Lincoln (Pa.) on Saturday. The two teams haven’t played football against each other since 1948 when a young coach by the name of Big House Gaines lost 21-0 to the Lions.
Gaines, who coached the WSSU football team as well as the basketball team during those heady days of the 1940s, went 8-1 that season for the Rams with their only loss to Lincoln.
Lincoln (Pa.) is one of the original schools in the CIAA that was formed in 1912, but it dropped out of the conference in 1980. When the school resurrected football after a 47-year absence, it rejoined the league in 2010.
“It’s odd that we haven’t played them yet since we got back into the CIAA,” said coach Kienus Boulware of the Rams.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- It has been a long journey to being the starting quarterback at Alabama State for senior Quinterris Toppings.
Toppings, an Eight Mile, Alabama native from Mobile County, had been serving mostly in reserve roles during his first three seasons in an Alabama State uniform.
Toppings didn’t start Alabama State’s season opener at UTSA, but had a career night in his third consecutive start for the Hornets in its home opener last Saturday.
Unfortunately, his career-high 323 passing yards came in a difficult 31-27 loss to Texas Southern which sent the Hornets (0-4, 0-3 SWAC) to their worst start in 17 years.
“The game plan was simple,” Toppings said. “Run the ball. Throw the ball. Move the ball up and down the field. I think we did it well. There were some things I could have done better as a quarterback.”
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GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling's place as one of the top teams in the Southwestern Athletic Conference was cemented with last Saturday's convincing victory over two-time defending SWAC champions Alcorn State.
What was more impressive, though, was the win marked Grambling's 11th consecutive league victory dating back almost two years ago. It's only two games into the SWAC schedule, but the Tigers have no intention of ending the streak.
"We feel like we shouldn't lose any game in the SWAC and that these guys want to continue this streak and we want to leave a legacy behind at Grambling," said Eric Rhodes, who is the defensive quality control coach at Grambling.
"This is something you want to remember not losing a game or having this winning streak in conference games and also coming out with a ring. We want to end up in Atlanta. It's one game at a time, each SWAC game at a time."
ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Did you hear it on Monday, resonating from the South Carolina State campus?
No, not the Marching 101 practicing their sound, but rather the collective exhale from Bulldogs head football coach Buddy Pough and everyone involved in the football program.
After three straight weeks of road losses to Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the Bulldogs captured that elusive first win of the 2016 season with a 48-14 win to open Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play in Tallahassee, Fla. on Saturday.
That satisfaction is coupled with the fact that S.C. State is now on its bye week on the season schedule, leaving the Bulldogs 14 days between their last game and their next game. On Saturday, Oct. 8, S.C. State will finally get the chance to play a home game, with a 1:30 p.m. start against Bethune-Cookman on Willie E. Jeffries Field inside Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina -- Chalk up another sports conference moving events out of North Carolina in response to House Bill 2: The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association said Friday that it will relocate eight out of 10 sports championships from the state.
