XULA to compete in 5 events at NAIA national meet

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana will have six entries in five events — the men's triple jump and the women's 400-meter dash, 400 relay, 1,600 relay and long jump — at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.
     
The 3-day meet will begin Thursday at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Ala.
     
Freshman Ry-Anne Riley will be the busiest of the 10 XULA athletes. She'll compete in the long jump and will run the anchor segment of the 400 relay and the leadoff lap of the 1,600 relay.
     
"I feel really good about our chances here," XULA coach Joseph Moses said. "We look real fast, and we're healthy. That's the key to doing well at nationals. You can't go into this meet 80- or 85-percent healthy."
     
The XULA entries:
     
•  Women's 400 Relay (trials at 2:30 p.m. Thursday; finals at 2:40 p.m. Saturday):  Joining Riley on this team will be Martina Wright, Alexis Milton and Janelle Jones. Justyce Riggs is the alternate. None of the five is a senior. Wright, Milton, Jones and Riley won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference championship in this event in 47.25 seconds April 22. Defending champion Indiana Tech is No. 1 this season at 45.23. The Warriors won a year ago in 45.57.
    
 •  Women's Long Jump (5:30 p.m. Thursday):  Riley (5.57 meters/18 feet, 3 1/4 inches) and Ireyon Keith (5.51/18-1) both qualified for nationals April 7 at the University of Mobile Invitational, then finished 1-2 in this event at the GCAC meet to help the Gold Nuggets win the team title. Wayland Baptist freshman Telecia Briscoe (6.26/20-6 1/2) is the season leader. Defending champion is Mobile's Joniana Brinson, who jumped 5.86/19-2 3/4 last year and is No. 3 in 2017 at 6.06/19-10 3/4.
     
•  Women's 400 (trials at 3:30 p.m. Friday; finals at 4:30 p.m. Saturday):  Newcomer Ariane Williams set a XULA record of 56.63 April 22 at the GCAC meet. She ranks 17th in the NAIA. GCAC rival SUNO has the top three in this event, including leader Shadae Hilton at 53.50. Teammate and defending champion Orenthia Bennett is No. 2 at 53.98; Bennett won a year ago in 54.44.
    
•  Women's 1,600 Relay (trials at 7:45 p.m. Friday; finals at 6:15 p.m. Saturday): Clarke Allen will run anchor for the second straight year. She's the only returnee from last year's team that produced an All-America performance (seventh place) at nationals and set a school-record of 3:49.87 in the preliminaries. Williams will take the baton from Riley for the second lap, then hand off to Tramaine Shannon. The alternates are Jones and Milton. XULA is the No. 9 seed after its 3:53.83 March 17 at the Emory Invitational. Wiley is top-seeded at 3:43.71. Carroll (Mont.) won the 2016 title in 3:44.89 and is third-seeded this year at 3:47.54.
     
•  Men's Triple Jump (1:30 p.m. Saturday):  Keairez Coleman was the GCAC champion this year but did not qualify for nationals until he jumped 14.32/46-11 3/4 at XULA's final meet before nationals, the Southern Miss Open April 28. He ranks 27th nationally. Lindsey Wilson's Goabaone Mosheleketi (15.64/51-3 3/4) is the season leader. The 2016 champion, Eastern Oregon's Eric England (16.13/52-11), is not competing collegiately this season.
     
"We had a great week of practice after final exams," Moses said. "We're entering nationals with a positive outlook. I'm looking forward to seeing how well we'll do."

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush earn No. 2 again in NAIA postseason poll

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis, four days after its second consecutive runner-up finish at the NAIA National Championships, was ranked No. 2 in the postseason coaches poll.

The XULA men made their 86th consecutive top-25 appearance dating to April 4, 2007. It is the longest active streak in NAIA men's tennis. The Gold Rush were second in the 2016 postseason poll.

The Gold Rush finished 14-6 after a 5-0 loss Saturday to Georgia Gwinnett in the NAIA final at Mobile, Ala. Twelve XULA victories this season were against ranked or NCAA Division I teams — 10 of those were on the road.

XULA's resume got shinier Wednesday when Emory defeated Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5-1 in the NCAA Division III final at Chattanooga, Tenn. XULA won 5-4 at Emory Feb. 18.

The Gold Rush active poll streaks:
• 86 consecutive appearances in the top 25 . . . streak began April 4, 2007.
• 77 consecutive appearances in the top 20 . . . streak began April 30, 2008.
• 62 consecutive appearances in the top 15 . . . streak began Feb. 1, 2011.
• 56 consecutive appearances in the top 10 . . . streak began May 3, 2011.
• 18 consecutive appearances in the top 5 . . . streak began Jan. 26, 2016.
• 16 consecutive appearances in the top 3 . . . streak began March 1, 2016.
• 10 consecutive appearances in the top 2 . . . streak began May 25, 2016.

NAIA Men's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll
(first-place votes in parentheses — records through May 20)

Rank Team Record Points Last
1 Georgia Gwinnett (12) 24-0 312 1
2 XULA 14-6 302 2
3 Keiser 19-4 292 3
4 Campbellsville 26-5 282 5
5 Northwestern Ohio 22-2 271 4
6 Lindsey Wilson 17-7 258 7
7 William Carey 18-6 254 6
8 William Woods 15-6 240 9
9 Cardinal Stritch 19-6 228 10
10 Arizona Christian 15-13 224 8
11 Mobile 23-5 213 11
12 Westmont 14-8 202 12
13 San Diego Christian 7-11 188 13
14 Middle Georgia 10-9 182 16
15 SCAD Savannah 9-9 162 19
16 Reinhardt 13-6 150 15
17 Asbury 17-2 146 RV
18 Coastal Georgia 14-8 143 14
19 Tennessee Wesleyan 12-5 137 17
20 McPherson 11-4 122 21
21 Lawrence Tech 20-7 118 20
22 Olivet Nazarene 12-7 102 18
23 Aquinas 17-7 88 22
24 Cumberland 7-6 78 23
25 SCAD Atlanta 11-4 75 24

Dropped from rankings: No. 25 St. Thomas (Fla.)
Others receiving votes: St. Thomas (Fla.) 60, Marian (Ind.) 41, Warner 29, Missouri Valley 20, Hastings 17, Davenport 15, Cumberlands 8, Point 6, Bethany (Kan.) 5, Cornerstone 3

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Tennessee Vols Add James Daniel III, Bolster Backcourt

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- James Daniel, a 6-0, 175-pound guard from Hampton, Virginia, has signed an institutional aid agreement and plans to enroll at Tennessee this summer and play for the Volunteers as a graduate transfer during the 2017-18 season.

Daniel earned his degree in Sociology from Howard University this spring.

One of the best-kept secrets in college basketball during the 2015-16 season, Daniel led the country in scoring at 27.1 points per game, ultimately earning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors and honorable mention All-America distinction. Daniel’s memorable junior season for the Bison featured nine games of 30 or more points, including a career-best 39 in a win over William & Mary.

“James gives us not only offensive production but toughness and experience as well,” Vols head coach Rick Barnes said. “He recognized that our program has a lot of positive momentum and it means a lot to us that this was an important factor for him. He has already distinguished himself individually and now wants to have an impact on team success. Adding James to our roster is significant because it gives us some really good depth in our backcourt and the potential for some potent offense.”

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Top HBCU basketball coach Cy Alexander pens new book a year after resigning from North Carolina A&T

Beyond the Backboard: My Unique HBCU Experience In the Shadows of Big Time Basketball

GREENSBORO, North Carolina -- North Carolina A&T Men’s Basketball Coach Cy Alexander sent ripples through the basketball world when he resigned from his post as the Division 1 head coach citing in a statement to press, “I have decided to step away from actively coaching to pursue other interest within athletics. I look forward to pursuing those interest here at North Carolina A&T State University … I have a strong love for broadcasting, and I think being able to sharpen my skills on the Aggie basketball broadcasts will assist me in pursuing broadcasting as my next career. My decision to step down was a difficult one, but the last three years of my life have been tumultuous with the passing of my wife and mother. Therefore, I believe this decision was in the best interest of me and my family.”

He went on to thank all the young men “I’ve coached here at North Carolina A&T State University for their commitment to the program as well as their respective families who entrusted those young men to my care,” he continued. “Secondly, I want to thank Chancellor Harold L. Martin and Athletics Director Earl Hilton for the opportunity they gave me to become the head coach at North Carolina A&T, and the opportunity they are giving me to pursue my second career. I also want to say thank you to my coaches, managers and every person who has been involved with North Carolina A&T men’s basketball during my tenure.”

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Nuggets in final top 10 for 4th time in last 5 seasons

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana fell three places Wednesday to No. 10 in the NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Postseason Top 25 poll, but the Gold Nuggets can boast of their fourth top-10 appearance in the last five postseason polls.
     
The Gold Nuggets began the season 19th, and on March 14 they made their first of six consecutive top-10 appearances. A No. 7 ranking May 7 was their highest of the season.
     
The Gold Nuggets lost 5-4 to Indiana Wesleyan one week ago in the round of 16 at the NAIA National Championships in Mobile, Ala. IWU replaced XULA at No. 7.
     
XULA is in the top 25 for the 48th consecutive time. That streak began May 1, 2012. Dating to Feb. 25, 2004, the Gold Nuggets appeared in 93 of the last 103 polls. (The 2005-06 season, when XULA did not compete intercollegiately, is not included.)
     
Georgia Gwinnett, which repeated as national champion, is a unanimous No. 1 for the 10th consecutive poll.

NAIA Women's Tennis Coaches' Top 25 Postseason Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through May 20) Rank Team Record Points Last 1 Georgia Gwinnett (14) 26-0 374 1 2 Lindsey Wilson 22-5 362 2 3 William Woods 14-10 346 12 4 SCAD Savannah 16-4 337 3 5 Keiser 15-8 331 4 6 William Carey 18-4 312 6 7 Indiana Wesleyan 37-9 294 10 8 San Diego Christian 15-4 287 5 9 LSU-Alexandria 19-4 285 9 10 XULA 7-14 270 7 11 Northwestern Ohio 19-7 257 8 12 Cardinal Stritch 16-6 237 13 13 Mobile 23-5 229 11 14 Cumberlands 16-9 215 15 15 SCAD Atlanta 13-7 211 20 16 Arizona Christian 17-9 194 14 17 Lewis-Clark State 8-14 175 16 18 Davenport 14-11 160 18 19 Olivet Nazarene 10-12 156 19 20 Middle Georgia 13-8 140 17 21 Campbellsville 12-12 139 21 22 Georgetown (Ky.) 16-8 125 23 23 McPherson 9-3 124 22 24 Tennessee Wesleyan 12-7 78 25 25 St. Thomas (Fla.) 4-10 74 24 Dropped from rankings:  none Others receiving votes:  Reinhardt 48, Coastal Georgia 37, Cumberland 36, Marian (Ind.) 35, Asbury 35, Hastings 25, Missouri Valley 17, Southwestern (Kan.) 17, Brenau 13, Southeastern (Fla.) 6 Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold

Former UNC Tar Heel joins NCCU football team

DURHAM, North Carolina  -- Jordan Fieulleteau, a graduate transfer from the University of North Carolina, will finish his football career down the road at North Carolina Central.

Fieulleteau posted on his twitter page Friday morning “Excited to announce that I will be playing at North Carolina Central University next season for my final year of eligibility!”

Fieulleteau graduated from UNC in three years and will be eligible to play right away for the Eagles. After enrolling at UNC in the spring of 2013, Fieulleteau redshirted the 2013 season. In two seasons for the Tar Heels he caught eight passes for 129 yards. He posted a career-high in catches (4) and yards (74) versus Miami in 2015.

In high school Fieulleteau was one of the best wide receivers in the history of North Carolina prep football at Wakefield High School outside of Raleigh. He caught 111 passes (4th all-time in state history) for 1,669 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior. He ended his career with the third-most touchdowns in state history and second-highest reception total in a season. In 2011 and 2012 he had the most touchdown catches in the nation.

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Delaware State QB Lain Move On To Southern Jaguars

Kobie Lain
Courtesy: Delaware State University Athletics

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Kobie Lain, Kenny Carter’s first quarterback recruit at Delaware State, announced he is transferring to Southern University for the final two years of his collegiate career.

Lain signed with the Hornets two years ago as Carter’s first recruiting class. He appeared in five games as a true freshman and started two, including the only victory of that season in the final game of the year where he had a rushing touchdown.

But Lain didn’t win the starting job for his sophomore season. He played in five contests but did not record a touchdown.

He finished the season with with 135 passing yards and was 17-of-32 passing attempts with an interception.

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XULA Goreau repeats as first-team NAIA All-America

NEW ORLEANS — Sixteen months ago, Charlene Goreau succeeded Nour Abbes as the top singles player for Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis. Tuesday Goreau joined Abbes as the only Gold Nuggets to earn first-team NAIA All-America as a freshman and sophomore.

Goreau — from Toulouse, France, a graduate of Raymond Naves School and a business sales and marketing major at XULA — was 15-12 in singles and 11-14 in doubles in 2016-17. She led the Gold Nuggets to five victories against ranked opponents and a No. 7 national team ranking.

Goreau concluded her second season of a collegiate competition last week with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 victory against Indiana Wesleyan's 19th-ranked Rachel Bottorff in the round of 16 at the NAIA National Championships in Mobile, Ala. Although Bottorff was 15 places ahead of Goreau in the most recent ITA rankings, Goreau was 2-0 this year against the IWU senior.

Goreau is the fourth Gold Nugget to make first-team All-America twice. Abbes, Kourtney Howell and Anastesia Opata also did it. Nine Gold Nuggets have earned a collective 16 All-America berths (first or second team); six have accounted for 10 first-team spots.

This is the fifth straight season that XULA produced at least one first-team All-American apiece on the women's and men's teams.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush produce record number of NAIA All-Americans

NEW ORLEANS — Coach Alan Green reloaded at midterm, produced a second straight national runner-up finish in men's tennis four months later — and was rewarded Tuesday with a school-record four All-Americans on the NAIA's committee-selected team.

Catalin Fifea and Antoine Richard made the first team, and Moses Micheal and Karan Salwan were on the second team. All were XULA newcomers in 2017 except for Salwan, who was first-team All-America a year ago. Fifea, Richard and Micheal enrolled at XULA in January.

Fifea — a junior sociology major from Bucharest, Romania, a graduate of General School No. 31 and a transfer from NCAA Division I's VCU — was 11-2 this year in singles and 11-8 in doubles. He led the Gold Rush in singles winning percentage. Earlier this month he was named Louisiana Newcomer of the Year.

Richard, a freshman finance major from Laval, Quebec, and a graduate of Le Tremplin, was 9-6 in singles and 13-4 in doubles with Micheal as his partner. Previously Richard was chosen ITA NAIA National and Region IV (South) Rookie of the Year and first-team All-Louisiana.

Micheal, a freshman business major from Kaduna, Nigeria, and a graduate of Universal School, was 7-6 in singles and led in 5-of-6 unfinished matches. He recorded victories against a pair of 2017 second-team All-Americans: Lucien Samitier of William Carey and Julian Turosienski of Keiser.

Salwan, from New Delhi, India, a graduate of Modern School, and a transfer from DI Utah State, was a team-leading 17-4 singles and 16-7 in doubles. A business management major, Salwan received his bachelor's degree May 13.

Salwan joins Zach Taylor, Loic Didavi, Nikita Soifer and Kyle Montrel as Gold Rush players with multi-year All-America honors. This is the sixth straight season that the Gold Rush have a first-team All-America player.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Timothy Walsh Named Head Women’s Volleyball Coach at Coppin State University

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Coppin State University's Director of Athletics Derek Carter announced Timothy Walsh as the 12th women's volleyball head coach in school history.

Walsh comes to Coppin State after spending the last two seasons at Marywood University as their women's volleyball head coach. He guided the Pacers to a 25-36 combined record and a 15-7 conference record in two years, including the program's 400th all-time victory in 2015. His 2015 team was one of 141 Division III schools to be named an American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award recipient. Walsh and his Pacers reached the CSAC playoffs for two consecutive seasons. The 2016 squad collected 17 wins, the most for Marywood's program since the 2013 season.

Prior to Marywood, Walsh served as the head coach at Francis Scott Key High School in Union Bridge, MD for six seasons. He led the Eagles to the 2A Maryland State Championship in 2009. Walsh led Key to a 66-18 overall record and a .727 winning percentage. The Carroll County Times named him Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2013. He coached two county players of the year in 2009 and 2014. Eight of his players went on to play collegiately and his 2012 team reached the Class 2A West Regional Finals.

Additionally, Walsh was a court director and coach at the Volleyball Factory, Inc. in Columbia, MD. He worked, traveled and trained with former All-Americans and USA National Team Members Cheryl Weaver and Kristee Porter to help student-athletes excel in volleyball. He also was a head volleyball club coach at Carroll Viper Volleyball Club and Maryland Elite Volleyball Academy. Walsh has also helped out the 2014 and 2015 Big South champions and 2016 Sunbelt champions, Coastal Carolina's head volleyball coach Jozsef Forman with his summer volleyball camps.

Walsh taught special education and American sign language at Key from 2007-14.

Walsh is a member of the AVCA. He was a two year captain and starter in the Empire State Games, Hudson Valley Region Men's Volleyball Team and played in various clubs and leagues during and after his stent at Towson University. He was a four-year Division I, cross country and track and field letter winner and captain for the Tigers.

Walsh received his Bachelor of Science in Deaf Studies with Cum
Laude distinction from Towson in 2004. He earned his Master of Science Degree in Deaf Education (2006) and his Education Administrator I Certificate (2012) from McDaniel College. He currently resides in Scranton, PA with his wife Shannon and baby daughter, Ayla Jeanne.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

National Champion Grambling State Installing New Turf In Historic Robinson Memorial Stadium

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Hellas Construction is installing new turf for Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium at Grambling State University. Excitement is growing about the new possibilities that artificial turf brings.

Paul "Tiger" Bryant was hired in January as director of athletics and one top priority was stadium renovations. Out of five turf companies that submitted proposals, Hellas was the only one to ask for a geotechnical report to look below the surface. They selected Hellas.

Hellas will be installing Matrix® Turf, organic Geo Plus® Infill, and Cushdrain® Pad. Hellas' Cushdrain Pad allows for proper drainage, absorbs stress and diffuses points of impact, adding safety for athletes with increased shock absorption, reducing concussions. The 100% organic Geo Plus® Infill is recyclable, made from select cork and coconut fibers, which resists compaction, increases traction, and will reduce field temperatures up to 40 degrees, compared to rubber infill.



"The game day experience will be something we've never had at Grambling. This is going to transform the way we are looked at and opens doors for opportunities to host more than just football games," said Bryant.

Head Coach Broderick Fobbs said, "We are champions and champions deserve to play on a field as such." They went 11-1 last year, winning the SWAC Championship and HBCU National Championship at the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl.

Rick Gallot, university president said, "As exciting as this is for our alumni and fans, it's really exciting for our football players and band members. Our World Famed Tiger Marching Band members are truly thrilled that they get to perform on a top tier turf."

The first home game is September 9 and an extra home game was added October 28, for the annual homecoming game.

About Hellas Construction, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX. One of the largest sports construction contractors in the U.S., specializing in general construction of sports facilities with innovative artificial turf manufacturing and installation, base construction, field, track, and tennis planning, installation, and maintenance. Visit hellasconstruction.com.

About Grambling State University Grambling State University, located in Grambling Louisiana, is a historically black university founded in 1901. The University is accredited by 13 accrediting associations and holds accreditations in all programs required by Louisiana Board of Regents. The 590-acre campus offers 43 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Grambling State University is a member of the University of Louisiana System.

Upstart Texas Southern prevails 4-2 over Alabama State in 13-inning marathon for SWAC title

NEW ORLEANS -- On paper, Texas Southern wasn't supposed to be quite good enough to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball championship.

The Tigers, after all, entered Sunday's title game with just 19 victories and their roster had just one player to make the all-conference team.

And that player only made the second team.

But there Texas Southern was near the pitcher's mound at Wesley Barrow Stadium Sunday, hoisting the SWAC championship trophy for a second time in three years after a 13-inning, 4-2 victory over Alabama State.

"It was a total team effort," TSU coach Michael Robertson said. "Yes, we had one guy to make all-conference, but that's TSU. That's what we're all about. We don't put the focal point on one guy. We try to do everything as a team. We stick to our system, and I think that explains it best."

Gerrick Jimenez, in his first at-bat, drove in what proved to be the game-winner in the top of the 13th with his RBI single.

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Gold Rush repeat as NAIA national runner-up

Results

MOBILE, Alabama — Streaks ended and continued Saturday when second-seeded Xavier University of Louisiana fell 5-0 to top-seeded Georgia Gwinnett in the final of the NAIA Men's Tennis National Championship.

It was a rematch of the 2016 final, which the Grizzlies won 5-2, and it was the fourth consecutive national title for Georgia Gwinnett (23-0). But this time XULA (14-6) didn't win a match; the Gold Rush lost 8-4 on all three doubles courts after winning 2-of-3 in doubles a year ago.

"We got off to a really slow start in doubles, and that took a lot out of us," XULA coach Alan Green said.

"We fought hard to come back in singles, and for 20 or 30 minutes it looked like we shifted the momentum.

But Georgia Gwinnett did what it had to do to clinch."

It was the first time since the 2014 quarterfinals that the Rush failed to win a doubles match at nationals. All three matches ended within three minutes of each other, and it was the first losses of the tournament for the teams of Antoine Richard-Moses Micheal and Karan Salwan-Tushar Mandlekar.

About 90 minutes later, the Grizzlies clinched and capped a second straight unbeaten season. Rafael Coutinho defeated Adam Albrecht 6-0, 6-4 on the sixth singles court, then Federico Duran beat Mandlekar 6-2, 6-0 at No. 5. Mandlekar, XULA's all-time winningest player at nationals, lost for the first time in nine singles decisions at the tournament.

XULA's brightest moments were in singles, where Micheal led Jordan Cox — the ITA's second-ranked NAIA player — 7-6 (7-4), 0-1 when the dual was clinched, and Catalin Fifea led Connor Clements 6-3, 4-2. When XULA lost 5-0 Feb. 19 at Georgia Gwinnett, Micheal lost 6-0, 6-0 to Cox. Micheal is the second NAIA player to win a set against Cox in dual matches this season.

"Moses has gotten better with every match," Green said. "Cat (Fifea) has been rock-solid and a leader for us all season."

The Gold Rush are 0-6 all-time against Georgia Gwinnett and have yet to win a singles match. The Grizzlies extended their overall win streak to 55 dual matches — they were 26-0 in 2016 — and they're 34-0 the last three seasons against NAIA opponents and 16-0 all-time at nationals.

Can any school catch the Grizzlies? "We've got to keep trying," Green said. "We're not going to put our heads down after this and shut it down and quit. We're going to come back next year and keep trying."

NOTES: It was the final college competition for XULA seniors Albrecht, Mandlekar and Salwan . . . Albrecht and Mandlekar reached the national quarterfinals or better each of their four seasons . . . Salwan's final two singles matches were unfinished, and he finished the semester 11-1 with five unfinished matches, four of which he led . . . XULA's .700 winning percentage this season is the second highest of Green's 14 seasons as coach. The Gold Rush finished 17-7 (.708) in 2009.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Bethune-Cookman overpowers Norfolk State for MEAC baseball title

SALISBURY, Maryland -- Bethune-Cookman scored nine runs in the first three innings Saturday on the way to an 11-1 victory over Norfolk State in the championship round of the MEAC baseball tournament at Perdue Stadium.

The game was stopped after seven innings by the 10-run rule. The Spartans (26-22), the Northern Division champion, needed to win twice to claim their first conference title.

Norfolk State pitcher Brian Beard (Great Bridge) led off the game with a double, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on Alex Mauricio's sacrifice fly.

After that, it was all Wildcats. Bethune-Cookman (33-23), the Southern Division winner, answered with three runs in the bottom of the first, then scored four in the second and two in the third.

The Spartans, who had just four hits, didn't get a runner to second base after the first inning. Beard (0-4) took the loss, allowing 12 hits and nine runs in four innings. Forced to play twice on Friday and come through the losers' bracket, Norfolk State's pitching staff was taxed.

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WSSU hopes to renew rivalry with N.C. Central in 2020

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- Winston-Salem State is close to an agreement to play the defending MEAC champion N.C. Central Eagles in football in 2020.

The rivalry is one of the best in the state, and it’s something Tonia Walker, the athletics director at WSSU, says would bring a lot of exposure.

“As of now we don’t have a contract from N.C. Central, but it’s a verbal agreement,” Walker said. “We think it’s a good rivalry game, and it’s a rivalry game that’s been missed in the last several years.

“Right now, we are waiting on a contract from them.”

The game would be played at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on the campus of N.C. Central, Walker said.

Walker said she often hears from alumni and fans asking when Division II WSSU would renew its rivalries with N.C. Central and N.C. A&T.

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Coppin State Athletics Tabs Nichole Person Interim Assistant Athletic Director/SWA

BALTIMORE, Maryland – Coppin State University's Director of Athletics, Derek Carter announced that Nichole Person will serve as the Interim Assistant Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator for the athletics department.

Person, who has been with Coppin State since 2012, is also an Adjunct Professor in the College of Business instructing sport management and internship courses for students. In addition, Person worked with the National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend, T.D. Jakes 3-day Mega Fest and the New York Urban League Football Classic managing show flow, staffing and logistics. She also has experience with the Senior Professional Golfers Association (PGA) serving as an event Tournament Coordinator.

Person began her career in intercollegiate athletics as a student ath
letic trainer. She was a graduate intern for the 1996 Summer Olympic Paralympic Games. Person is a 1994 graduate of Morgan State. She obtained her master's degree from Georgia State in 1997.

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3-Star Recruit Corbin Merritt Becomes First Florida A&M Signee of the McCullum Era

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Newly named Florida A&M head men's basketball coach Robert McCullum wasted no time in getting to work on his 2017-18 roster, signing 6'9" C/F Corbin Merritt to a scholarship to continue his play as a member of the Rattler squad.

Merritt, one of the most exciting players in the Big Bend, led his Godby Cougars to a 25-2 record. Merritt's development over last season netted the Cougars the district title.

McCullum is pleased to get Merritt in orange and green. "We are elated over Corbin's decision to further his academic and basketball endeavors at Florida A&M. In addition to adding much needed frontline help to our team, Corbin's size, athleticism and skill set will enable him to be very versatile offensively and more difficult to defend in our system. We are extremely pleased to add a high school prospect with this versatility," McCullum said.

Merritt averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots per game this season. His decision to stay home and attend school speaks volumes about FAMU.

"We anticipate his decision will resonate on a number of levels both locally and statewide. Perhaps the most impressive point about Corbin's decision is that FAMU is where he and his family wanted him to be. I'm extremely grateful for the confidence Merritt and his family have shown in me," McCullum said.

Corbin Merritt

6-9 | C/F | Tallahassee, Fla | Godby High School

• Rated a three-star by ESPN

• Rated a three-star by 247 Sports

• MVP of the Jerry Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas

• Averaged 18 pts, 11 reb, 4 blocks per game

• 1st Team All Big Bend

• 3rd Team All State

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Rush double down, advance to 2nd straight NAIA final

Results   •   Video of No. 3 doubles match 

MOBILE, Alabama — Xavier University of Louisiana overcame deficits in all three doubles matches Friday, then got singles victories from Tushar Mandlekar and Moses Micheal to defeat Keiser 5-1 in the men's semifinals of the NAIA Tennis National Championships.

The Gold Rush (14-5), ranked and seeded second, won in the semifinals for the second consecutive year. XULA will play top-ranked and 3-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett (22-0) for the championship at 9 a.m. Saturday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center (851 Gaillard Drive, zip code 36608, phone 251-208-5181). Admission is free. It will be a rematch of the 2016 final, which Georgia Gwinnett won 5-2.

Prior to 2016, no XULA team in any sport had reached the championship round of an NAIA national tournament.

Micheal clinched the dual when he defeated Julian Turosienski 6-4, 6-3 on the second singles court.

XULA took a 3-0 into the singles when:

• Mandlekar and Karan Salwan overcame a 4-2 deficit and won 8-5 on the third court against nationally ranked Julian Turosienski and Romai Ugarte, who beat Salwan and Mandlekar in February.

• Catalin Fifea and Pierre Andrieu, beaten 8-1 in the quarterfinals Thursday against William Carey, also overcame a 4-2 deficit and won 9-8 (7-3) against nationally ranked Bastien Sorg and Shaquille Taylor.

• Micheal and Antoine Richard won 9-8 (7-3) against Francesco Oliva and Clement Raymond on the first court. Like Fifea and Andrieu, Micheal and Richard won the 16th game to force a tiebreaker.

"That was the toughest 5-1 match I've ever been in," said Alan Green, the most successful postseason coach in XULA history. "Our guys clamped down when we needed to and found a way to win. They did a great job competing and battling."

After Keiser (21-5), ranked and seeded third, won on the sixrh singles court, Mandlekar made it 4-1 with his 6-1, 6-3 victory against Shaquille Taylor at No. 5. Mandlekar, a senior, is the winningest Gold Rush player all-time at nationals — 8-0 in singles, 9-3 in doubles.

XULA is 0-5 all-time against Georgia Gwinnett, including a 5-0 loss Feb. 19 in GGC's Grizzly Invitational.

"Tomorrow's match has nothing to do with last year, earlier this season or today," Green said. "It'll be a totally separate event."

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Gold Rush reach NAIA semifinals by beating Crusaders

Results

MOBILE, Alabama — For the second consecutive year, Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis is headed to the semifinals of the NAIA National Championships.

Led by seniors Karan Salwan and Tushar Mandlekar, the Gold Rush won for the second consecutive day with a 5-2 decision against regional rival William Carey.

XULA (13-5), ranked and seeded second nationally, will play third-ranked/seeded Keiser at 9 a.m. Friday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center. The Gold Rush are 3-0 in the past 15 months against the Seahawks, including victories in the 2016 NAIA quarterfinals and Feb. 17 in the Grizzly Invitational at Lawrenceville, Ga.

Salwan and Mandlekar posted XULA's first victory with an 8-4 decision against Clement Fosse and Hugo Robuchon on the third doubles court. In singles, Salwan made it 3-1 with a 6-1, 6-2 victory against Fosse at No. 3, then Mandlekar made it 4-1 — and avenged a 3-set loss to Paul Chaubaud from last month — with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No 5.

Catalin Fifea clinched on the fourth court with a 7-6 (7-0), 6-0 victory against Robuchon.

Also winning for XULA were Antoine Richard and Moses Micheal, who beat Chaubaud and Lucien Samitier 8-5 at No. 1 doubles.

Salwan is 4-0 after two rounds, winning twice in doubles with Mandlekar and twice in singles. Salwan was 4-3 in four tournament rounds in 2016.

Vladyslav Ladygin won twice for William Carey (16-6). Ladygin and Christian Hansson defeated Fifea and Pierre Andrieu 8-1 in 34 minutes on the second doubles court, then Ladygin — a two-time loser to Richard in the regular season at No. 1 singles — scored a 6-4, 6-2 upset against the 2017 ITA NAIA National Rookie of the Year.

The dual match lasted two hours and 39 minutes. The start was delayed 55 minutes because of rain.

XULA won for the eighth time this season against a ranked opponent and the third time in as many attempts against the Crusaders.

This will be the fifth straight year that Alan Green coaches XULA in the NAIA national semifinals. In addition to two straight appearances with the Gold Rush, he coached the XULA women in that round in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Green is the only coach in any sport to lead XULA to an NAIA semifinal.

Keiser advanced with a 5-4 victory against 2016 semifinalist Lindsey Wilson. On the other side of the bracket, Campbellsville defeated Northwestern Ohio 5-4, and three-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett beat William Woods 5-0. Campbellsville and Georgia Gwinnett also will play at 9 a.m. Friday. The championship will start at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold