Coppin State Baseball Rallies for Win at UMBC; Coach Sherman Reed Breaks Program Record for Wins

CATONSVILLE, Maryland –Coppin State's baseball team rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to defeat UMBC, 13-11, on Wednesday afternoon at Alumni Field.  The victory gives the Eagles 20 for the season, just one shy of a program-record and gives head coach Sherman Reed 84 career victories which breaks Jason Booker's old mark of 83 wins.
 
Trailing, 11-8 going into their final at bat, Coppin tagged Retrievers reliever Max Goron for five runs on five hits to go with an error to take a two-run lead.  Brett Helmbrecht and Carlos Alviarez led off the frame with singles before Andres Santana drew a walk to load the bases.  Corey Treyes then doubled down the right field line to drive in two runs, cutting the deficit to 11-10.  Caleb Duhaythen hit a sacrifice fly to score Santana and moving Treyes to third, tying the score at 11.  After an intentional walk to Nazier McIlwain, Derek Lohr laid down a bunt single to give the Eagles the lead and McIlwain later scored on a throwing error.
 
Delvin McFadden, who came into the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the eighth, got out unscathed with two strikeouts.  McFadden then allowed just a single in the ninth before forcing a game-sealing groundball double play.

BOX SCORE
 
Coppin had led multiple times earlier in the game, going ahead 3-0 after the first on a RBI single by McIlwain, followed by a two-run double by Marcos Castillo.  The Retrievers cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third before the Navy & Gold tagged them for five runs in the bottom half.  McIlwain and Alviarez delivered with a two-run singles in the inning, sandwiching an RBI groundout by Helmbrecht.
 
UMBC put up back-to-back crooked numbers in the fourth and fifth innings off Devin Rivera Ozuna and Bradley Tuttle to take a 10-8 lead before adding an extra run in the eighth to go up by three.
 
McIlwain drove in a team-high three runs and scored three times while going 2-for-4 with a walk.  Helmbrecht had a team-high three hits while Duhay and Alviarez also had multi-hit games.  Erik Crossman and Treyes both drew a pair of walks as Treyes also drove in two runs and scored three times.
 
The Thursday afternoon game at Delaware State has been cancelled so the MEAC North Champion Eagles will return to action at the MEAC Tournament in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 15-19 where they have a first round bye.

COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Howard University Volleyball Set To Become First HBCU To Take An International Tour

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University women's volleyball team is making history as it heads to Africa for the team's international debut. With its exceptional academic and athletic achievements, the 11-time MEAC champions are traveling overseas to expand on their success. They will become the first volleyball team from a historically Black college or university (HBCU) to take an international tour. The team will compete against opponents from Botswana and Zimbabwe.

"This trip to Africa is a chance for our team to grow both on and off the court. While the matches will give us the opportunity to play against some of the best teams on the continent, the real opportunity will come from our outreach events," stated head coach Shaun Kupferberg. "The cultural immersion and education will prepare our student-athletes for a more global workplace in the coming years. Their worldview will be changed forever by this experience and will give them a better sense of their place in the world."

Elite college programs across the United States take international tours once every four years to train against foreign teams and experience other cultures. In addition to the matches, Howard's team will participate in community service, hosting youth volleyball skills clinics in rural African communities. Student-athletes have an opportunity to volunteer in areas within their current field of study while broadening their worldview and developing their global leadership skills.

"Howard has a legacy of making history and paving the way for others. We are proud to be the first HBCU volleyball team to go on a foreign tour and we look forward to planning future tours for each cohort of players that we have," said assistant coach Ciara Jones.

The team ran an online fundraising campaign to offset the cost of the trip. The money donated goes toward traveling expenses that include transportation, meals and lodging for the entire team.

"Going to Africa with this team is nothing short of a once in a lifetime opportunity," expressed Khaila Donaldson, a graduating senior from Illinois. "I cannot wait to fully immerse in African culture while being afforded the ability to play against some of the best national teams on the continent. Having the privilege of this experience alongside some of my best friends is the greatest graduation gift I can receive."

Travel will take place May 13-25. Tax-deductible donations can still be made online by clicking here.

For media inquiries contact Brittany Bell Surratt, brittany.bell@howard.edu.

About Howard University Athletics

The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 19 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent six conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association (CCSA), Sun Belt Conference, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) and Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference. Visit www.hubison.com to learn more.

Grambling State fires softball coach Wilbert Early

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State fired softball coach Wilbert Early Thursday morning, less than a week after he completed his 12th season with the program.

"I want to thank coach Early for his service to Grambling State University and we wish him well on his next endeavor," said GSU Athletic Director Paul Bryant via text message.

Lady Tiger teams under Early's watch have mightily struggled to be competitive on the field against similar lower-tier Division I teams, and in the SWAC, especially the last three seasons.

This past season, Grambling went 11-29 but only beat one D-I opponent, a 5-4 win versus rival Southern on April 28 and finished an abysmal 1-17 in SWAC play. The Lady Tigers have managed just five total D-I wins the past three seasons, all conference victories, and have failed to advance to the conference tournament since 2015.

The program hit rock bottom in 2016, Early's 10th year at the helm, going 3-27 on the season. Grambling State has not had a winning record in SWAC play since 2009, losing double-digit league games during each of those years.

CONTINUE READING

Chicago State Hires Former NFL Player Chris Zorich as New Athletics Director

Zorich earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at Notre Dame

Zorich Promises to ‘Change the Game’ through an Energizing Mix of Academics, Athletics And a Plan to Reinvigorate Student-Athletes

CHICAGO, Illinois --Chicago State University officials announced today the hiring of former Chicago Bear Chris Zorich as its new Director of Athletics. Zorich, who has held multiple leadership positions since his NFL days, most recently headed the Athletics department at Prairie State College where he managed the college’s NJCAA Division I and II sponsored sports teams and fostered initiatives for raising academic requirements while improving win-loss percentages.

“The main motivation for taking this job is that I see Chicago State as a hidden gem,” said Zorich. “I’m honored to become a part of the CSU family. I plan to bring together resources that I have found in places like the University of Notre Dame and help create a culture that will produce student-athletes who are encouraged to always do their best and to define success, not as much by whether they become professional athletes, but rather by a well-rounded ability to do well and be truly successful in life.”

A graduate of Chicago Vocational Academy (formerly CVS), Zorich began his football career at the University of Notre Dame where he finished as an all-American and won a national championship in 1988. He was later drafted by the Chicago Bears where he played from 1991-1997. After retirement, he returned to Notre Dame where he received a law degree. Despite his achievements on the field, he unabashedly shares that he grew up poor and says while he will begin with a listening tour of all CSU departments and colleges, he plans to create a community service program for developing business and community-based partnerships.

“I believe in outreach and inclusiveness and look forward to joining CSU leadership in building bridges to mutually beneficial relationships as well as to new development and growth opportunities for our student-athletes.”

“We are excited about having Chris as the new Director of Athletics,” said Rachel Lindsey, Interim President. “I believe he brings the kind of authentic knowledge, support and guidance that could change the game for the University’s athletic program, and we are counting on him to take that lead.”
Zorich, who begins his new job on May 8, says student-athletes can expect a reliable support system and structured programs that will include a focus on time management and academic success as well as athletic achievements.

-----------------------
Founded in 1867, Chicago State University is a nationally accredited university with five colleges- Health Sciences, Arts and Science, Business, Education, and Pharmacy – offering 36 undergraduate and 25 graduate degree-granting programs. Consistently evolving to reflect state-of-the-art trends in higher education, Chicago State University prepares students for success in the twenty-first century. For more information, please visit www.csu.edu.

Fifea, Abdullah collect ITA regional honors

NEW ORLEANS — For the third straight season, the men of Xavier University of Louisiana have received multiple Intercollegiate Tennis Association/NAIA end-of-season regional awards.

Catalin Fifea of the Gold Rush was named Most Improved Senior in Region IV (South), and Shaikh Abdullah was chosen Rookie of the Year. The ITA announced the awards Wednesday.

Fifea, from Bucharest, Romania, is 16-11 in singles for a Gold Rush team that is ranked fourth nationally. He is No. 17 in the ITA/NAIA singles rankings and has eight victories in his last 10 doubles decisions. Fifea is playing No. 1 singles for the Gold Rush this season after being in the middle of the lineup a year ago for XULA's national runner-up team.

Abdullah, a freshman from Hyderabad, India, has eight singles and doubles victories apiece, and he is 3-0 in singles and 3-0 in doubles against NCAA Division I opponents. Abdullah is ranked third nationally in doubles with Antoine Richard and 46th in singles.

It's the first time since 2008-09 that two Gold Rush teammates were honored regionally. It's also the first time that the Rush won the same regional player award in consecutive years. Richard last season was the Region IV and National Rookie of the Year.

Fifea and Abdullah will receive their awards Monday evening in Mobile, Ala., at a banquet for the men's and women's teams participating in the NAIA National Championships. The ITA's national winners will be announced at that time.

The Gold Rush (11-11), seeded fourth, have a first-round tournament bye and will play Middle Georgia or Asbury in the round of 16 at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Gold Nuggets earn No. 3 seed and first-round bye

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana women's tennis received the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye Tuesday for next week's NAIA National Championships at Mobile, Ala.

The Gold Nuggets (17-7) will play SCAD Savannah (11-4) or Cumberlands (10-10) in the round of 16 at 9 a.m. May 16 — one week from Wednesday — at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center (851 Gaillard Drive, zip code 36608, phone 251-208-5181). Admission is free for every round.

SCAD Savannah, the No. 14 seed, and 19th-seeded Cumberlands will play at 8:30 a.m. next Tuesday.
The tournament's top four seeds — Keiser, two-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett, XULA and Lindsey Wilson — are in the same positions as they were in the most recent coaches poll. But of the next 14 teams in that May 1 poll, only two have the same ranking and seeding. SCAD Savannah, for example, is seeded five spots lower than its poll position. Seventh-ranked William Woods is seeded 10th, and 10th-ranked Northwestern Ohio is seeded seventh. Eleventh-ranked Indiana Wesleyan received a nine seed.

XULA lost 6-1 to SCAD Savannah in the 2016 Green and Gray Invitational and defeated Cumberlands 5-3 in the 2017 Grizzly Invitational. Both those dual matches were at Lawrenceville, Ga. XULA and SCAD Savannah also met in the quarterfinals of nationals in 2015.

A SCAD Savannah-XULA matchup would result in a meeting between the the Bees' Camille Gbaguidi and the Gold Nuggets' Mariia Borodii, the top two in the ITA's most recent NAIA singles rankings. Both are unbeaten in singles in 2018, and Gbaguidi has won 55 singles matches in a row in dual competition — that streak began in March 2015.

This will be the Gold Nuggets' 12th appearance at nationals and their seventh in a row. They reached the national semifinals in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Rush get NAIA-leading 7th first-round bye in 8 years

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana men's tennis returned to a familiar spot Tuesday. For the fourth straight year and the seventh time in eight years, the Gold Rush received a first-round bye to next week's NAIA National Championships at Mobile, Ala.

The Gold Rush (11-11) will play Middle Georgia (10-4) or Asbury (15-1) in the round of 16 at 1 p.m. May 16 — one week from Wednesday — at Copeland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center (851 Gaillard Drive, zip code 36608, phone 251-208-5181). Admission is free for every round.

Middle Georgia, the No. 13 seed, and 20th-seeded Asbury will play at 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday. Asbury has a 14-dual win streak.

XULA's seven first-round byes are the most by an NAIA men's team in the last eight tournaments.
The tournament's top five seeds are the same as the most recent coaches poll May 1. Five-time defending champion Georgia Gwinnett is seeded first, followed by Keiser, Lindsey Wilson, XULA and William Carey.

XULA played nearly two-thirds of its regular-season matches against NCAA opponents. The Gold Rush are 5-3 against NAIA opponents, including road victories against top-8 seeds William Carey and Mobile.

This will be the Gold Rush's 10th appearance at nationals and 10th in a row. The XULA men were the NAIA national runner-up in 2016 and 2017.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

2018 FCS vs. FBS: MEAC

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The 2017 season ended quite well for the MEAC with conference champ North Carolina A&T being the only unbeaten team in the FCS.

But a September to remember helped get the season started for the MEAC as A&T and Howard both knocked off FBS opponents to allow the conference to tie for the FCS high.

FCS programs earned nine overall wins last season, and as they seek to make their mark again in this year's 111 matchups, here's a look at the ones involving MEAC teams:

The Matchups (14) - Bethune-Cookman: Florida Atlantic (Sept. 15); Delaware State: Buffalo (Sept. 1) and Western Michigan (Sept. 15); Florida A&M: Troy (Sept. 8); Howard: Ohio (Sept. 1) and Kent State (Sept. 8); Morgan State: Akron (Sept. 8); Norfolk State: Liberty (Sept. 15); North Carolina A&T: East Carolina (Sept. 1); North Carolina Central: Duke (Sept. 22); Savannah State: UAB (Aug. 30) and Miami-Florida (Sept. 8); South Carolina State: Georgia Southern (Sept. 1) and UCF (Sept. 8).

Upset Alert - Howard at Kent State (Sept. 8). Having posted the biggest point-spread upset (45 1/2 points) in history last year, the Bison won't be daunted by a Kent State team that was 2-10 last season. They'll need another big performance out of sophomore quarterback Caylin Newton.

CONTINUE READING

Grambling State Announces Partnership with adidas

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- Grambling State University Athletics and adidas today announced a multi-year partnership in which the Portland, Ore., based company will be the official athletic footwear, apparel and accessory brand of the Tigers through the 2022-2023 season.

"We are extremely thrilled to be embarking on an exciting new partnership with adidas," Grambling State Director of Athletics Paul A. Bryant said. "Our comprehensive agreement will provide the highest quality look and feel for the highest levels of athletic competition. We are excited to make adidas products available to our student-athletes and have their iconic brand across our department."

"Our mission is to help athletes perform better and we seek to inspire through our products, our style and in communities. We're looking forward to partnering with Grambling State Athletics to help them execute their mission to build on their national reputation of winning championships, graduating students and devolving leaders," said Jim Murphy, director of NCAA Sports Marketing at adidas North America. "We're excited to be a part of Grambling State's commitment to providing student-athletes the opportunity to successfully compete at the highest level of NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics and we'll bring our newest and most innovative high-performance products to the Tigers over the next five years."

adidas is a global designer, developer and marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories with the mission to make all athletes better. adidas is the official uniform, footwear and apparel provider for more than 100 collegiate programs including Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina State, Rutgers and Texas A&M. adidas has marketing agreements with the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Soccer (MLS).

GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Ex-Bear Chris Zorich eager to tackle challenges as Chicago State AD: 'I didn't take this blindly'

CHICAGO, Illinois -- As of Tuesday morning, Chris Zorich had not yet seen his Chicago State athletic director’s office. He hadn’t been given keys or the figures in the athletic budget.

Once he found the office, he would also find a stack of applications for the men’s and women’s basketball coach openings — hires he needs to make soon.

The challenges are not small, but Zorich said he’s ready to tackle the job.

“I consider this on par with when I was drafted by the Bears,” said Zorich, 49, a Chicago native and defensive tackle on Notre Dame’s 1988 national championship team who played for the Bears from 1991 to ’96.

Chicago State chooses three finalists for president

“Folks had enough confidence in me that I could run an athletic program in Chicago, not too far from where I grew up — that’s awesome. I’m so excited and so honored.”

After serving as athletic director at Prairie State — a community college in Chicago Heights — since 2015, Zorich was hired last week to replace interim AD Tracy Dildy at the South Side university.

Chicago State is in a state of flux as it attempts to hire a new president and find solid financial footing. The school was among the hardest-hit public institutions during the state’s budget crisis, and trustees declared a state of financial emergency in 2016.

CONTINUE READING

Sandy Pugh Named PVAMU Women's Basketball Coach

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Sandy Pugh has been named the new head women's basketball coach at Prairie View A&M University.

Pugh spent the previous 18 seasons as head coach at Southern University (2000-18), leading the Jaguars to seven outright or shared Southwestern Athletic Conference regular season titles. She also led Southern to four SWAC Tournament titles, four NCAA Tournament berths, and four NIT appearances. Pugh is a four-time SWAC Coach of the Year, including this past season when she led the Jaguars to the SWAC Regular Season title.

COACH SANDY PUGH VIDEO REMARKS

"I am excited to announce Sandy Pugh as the new head coach of Prairie View A&M women's basketball," said PVAMU Vice President/Director of Athletics Ashley Robinson. "She is a championship-winning coach with a proven pedigree of success. Coach Pugh won championships as a player in high school and college, and has been a part of and developed championship programs as an assistant coach and head coach. We look for her to lead and elevate Prairie View A&M women's basketball back to championship status and beyond."

Pugh led Southern to 15 seasons of .500 or better, including 13 winning seasons, five seasons of 20+ wins, and more than 300 victories during her tenure. In her second season as head coach, Pugh led Southern to a school record 26 wins and its first SWAC regular season and tournament titles and first NCAA Tournament appearance. The team was led by Jaclyn Winfield, who was drafted in the fourth round by the WNBA's Utah Starzz and is the only SWAC player to be drafted in league history.

The 2002 championship was the first of three occasions Pugh and the Jaguars won both the SWAC regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA Tournament berth in the same season (shared regular season title in 2006, outright title in 2010). SU also won the SWAC Tournament championship following the 2004 season.

"I want to thank Ashley Robinson for this incredible opportunity to be able to come to Prairie View A&M," Pugh said. "PV is at the forefront of everything in our conference. The growth has just been magnificent here at the University and in Athletics under Ashley's tutelage. What I see in the Athletic Department is just astounding, and for to have an opportunity to be a part of this growth and development and to come over to coach the women's basketball team is a blessing. I'm so looking forward to being here and being a part of the PV family. The family atmosphere here I've experienced has been overwhelming."

The 2010 title was the first of back-to-back regular season crowns for Pugh and the Jaguars, who also won the outright crown in 2014 and shared the title with Alabama State and Texas Southern in 2016 in addition to this season's outright title.

Pugh, who also served as interim Athletic Director at Southern from 2011-12, led Southern to NIT appearances in 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2018.

In addition to her NCAA and WNIT appearances while leading Southern, Pugh has previously been in the postseason three additional times as an assistant coach.

Pugh began her coaching career at her alma mater, Northwestern State (1987-89) as a graduate assistant, where the Lady Demons earned an NCAA Tournament berth following the 1989 season. After serving one season as head coach at Belle Place Middle School (New Iberia, La.; 1989-90), she spent five seasons as assistant coach at Louisiana-Monroe (1990-95), where the Warhawks were selected for the WNIT following the 1994 season. In her one season as an assistant coach at Central Florida (1995-96), the Lady Knights qualified for the NCAA Tournament.

Prior to her tenure at Southern, Pugh spent four seasons as head coach at Meridian Community College (1996-2000). She started the women's program at MCC, leading the Eagles to two Region 23 titles and back-to-back national tournament berths (1998, 1999), finishing as high as sixth in the NJCAA National Tournament.

A native of Saline, Louisiana, Pugh won two state championships as a player at Campti High (now Lakeview High School). As a collegian, Pugh was a three-time all-conference selection and led Northwestern State to three straight Gulf Star Conference Championships (1985, 1986, 1987). Pugh earned conference Player of the Year honors as a senior in 1987, averaging more than 21 points per game, and was inducted into the NSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2010.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Rush become XULA's 1st to reach 10 straight nationals

NEW ORLEANS — By receiving an at-large bid Monday to the NAIA National Championships, men's tennis became the first sport at Xavier University of Louisiana to qualify for nationals in 10 consecutive years.
     
The Gold Rush — 11-11 and ranked fourth — were one of 24 teams selected for nationals. It's the 10th time overall that the XULA men qualified.
     
The final pretournament step — the NAIA's announcement of the bracket and seedings — will occur no later than 1 p.m. Tuesday. The five-day tournament will begin May 15 at Coprland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.
     
The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes and play their first matches May 16. XULA received a bye six of the previous seven seasons, missing only in 2014.
     
The Gold Rush were NAIA national runner-up in 2016 and 2017, falling both years to Georgia Gwinnett in the final. The Grizzlies seek their fifth consecutive national championshhip.
     
XULA reached the quarterfinals each of the last six years.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Streaking Gold Nuggets qualify for nationals again

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, owner of the longest current active win streak in NAIA women's tennis, was announced Monday as one of 24 teams selected for the NAIA National Championships.
     
The Gold Nuggets — 17-7 and winner of a school-record 14 straight dual matches — qualified for the seventh consecutive season, the 10th time in 11 years and the 12th time overall. XULA received an at-large bid.
     
The final pretournament step — the NAIA's announcement of the bracket and seedings — will occur no later than 1 p.m. Tuesday. The five-day tournament will begin May 15 at Coprland-Cox Mobile Tennis Center in Mobile, Ala.
     
The top eight seeds will receive first-round byes and play their first matches May 16. The XULA women — No. 3 in the coaches poll announced his past Tuesday — are expected to receive a bye, same as they did in 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2017.
     
The Gold Nuggets, eliminated in the round of 16 last season, reached the national semifinals in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
     
This is the seventh consecutive year and the ninth time in 10 years that both XULA tennis teams qualified for nationals. The XULA men received their 10th consecutive bid to nationals Monday.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
www.facebook.com/xulagold 

Alabama State Lady Hornets win SWAC title, men finish second in Texas

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- Alabama State walked away with their ninth consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) women's championship, and finished second on the men's side at the outdoor championships held on the Prairie View A&M campus this weekend.
 
Alabama State won their first championship at Prairie View A&M, winning the cross country championship back in 2000 and the win this weekend marked the 30th title for Alabama State head coach Ritchie Beene as the head coach of the program, and the 41st overall on the coaching staff.
 
"It was a hard fought three days," Benne said. "I am extremely proud of both teams as they fought through the weekend, and the women were able to dominate the event and come out with a win. The men came up just a little bit short, but I am proud of them for the way they battled. I would like to thank my coaching staff, they did an amazing job preparing our student-athletes for the championships."
 
Alabama State claimed six individual titles on their way to 218 points, winning the championship by 62 points over second place Prairie View A&M. UAPB and Grambling State each tied for third place.
 
Xiquaria Reliford won an individual title in the discus with a throw of 44.60 meters (146-04.00), while the 4x100-meter relay team finished with a time of 45.02 seconds to claim gold in the event. Arion Span claimed gold in the 800-meters in a time of 2:09.56, while Shamaria Lovett added to her collection of gold by winning the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 58.02 seconds.
 
Charminiqu Hackney was crowned the fastest woman in the SWAC, winning the 100-meter dash in a time 11.24 seconds. She broke the championship record that was set back in 1986 in a time of 11.25 seconds. She also won gold in the 200-meters in a time of 23.30 seconds.
 
The Lady Hornets had three student-athletes finish second in their events, and several others finish in the top five to help the team win the overall team championship.
 
Meanwhile, on the men's side, Andrew Jackson and Josh Davis each claimed individual championships. Jackson won the 800-meter championship in a time of 1:55.92, while Davis won gold in the 200-meters with a time of 20.70 seconds. He narrowly missed gold in the 100-meters as he finished 0.02 seconds behind a pair of runners who crossed simultaneously.
 
Several other student-athletes finished in the top five to help Alabama State finish second in the meet with 161 points, one point ahead of Jackson State and six behind Prairie View A&M. The meet went down to the final event, the 4x400-meter relay, with the Hornets finishing behind Prairie View A&M.
 
Several student-athletes will now begin preparations for the NCAA East Regional in Tampa, with hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Champoinships.
 
Follow the Hornets
For complete coverage of Alabama State University track and field, please follow the Hornets on social media @BamaStateTFXC (Twitter), /BamaStateSports (Facebook) and @BamaStateSports Instagram) or visit the official home of Alabama State athletics at BamaStateSports.com. 

PVAMU Men's Track and Field Wins 2018 SWAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship, Ham Breaks SWAC Record

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – For the first time in 10 years the Prairie View A&M University men's track and field team earned the 2018 Outdoor SWAC Track and Field Championship after scoring 167 points, at the PVAMU Track and Field.
 
The Panthers finished in front of Alabama State (161), Jackson State (160), Texas Southern (113), Alabama A&M (84), UAPB (77), Alcorn St (37), and Miss. Valley St (16).
 
Tristian Ham shattered the previous SWAC championship mark of 5.05 meters in the men's pole vault. Ham won the gold with a clearance of 5.12 meters, and teammate Sunne-Rodriguez Weems was second (4.55m).
 
DeAnte Crittenden won the men's high jump, with a mark of 2.06 meters.  In the 4x100 meter relay quad of William Polley, Ty'Ron Baker, Ansar Richardson and Carl Jordan to take home the silver with the time of 40.37.  

Jovondi Williams took the bronze in the men's discus throw with a mark of 45.56m.  The duo of Polley and Jordan finished 1-2 in the 400-meter dash, Polley earned the gold with the time of 46.59. Jordan took the silver with the time of 46.63.  Logan Williams earned bronze with a time of 51.72  in the 400-meter hurdles.
 
Heading into the final event the Panther quad of Terrell Moses, Jordan, Lo. Williams, and Polley, scored the final points for the champions.posting a time of 3:09.81 to win the silver and the championship in the 4x400.  
 
Selected Panthers will return to action in the NCAA West Regionals to be held in Sacramento, Calif., May 24-26.

TEAM STANDINGS:
1. Prairie View A&M (167)

2. Alabama State (161)
3. Jackson State (160)
4. Texas Southern (113)
5. Alabama A&M (84)
6. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (77)
7. Alcorn State (37)
8. Mississippi Valley State (16)

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Saint Augustine's University Sweeps CIAA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships

The Legendary George Williams Picks Up Another Coaching Honor

BOWIE, Maryland  --  Saint Augustine's University swept the men's and women's titles at the CIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Bowie State University on Sunday.

The outdoor sweep is the first for the Falcons and Lady Falcons since the 2015 season. They swept both men's and women's indoor and outdoor conference titles in the same year for the first time since 2010.

Saint Augustine's University claimed its 21st straight men's outdoor conference crown and 38th in 40 seasons after entering the day trailing by 25 points to Virginia State University in the two-day meet. The Falcons finished the meet outscoring Virginia State 202-189 for the championship. Virginia Union University was third with 78 points followed by Lincoln (Pa.) University (61), Johnson C. Smith University (47), Livingstone College (37) and Bowie State University (35).

Saint Augustine's University won its 15^th women's title in 22 seasons and first since 2015 after starting the day in fourth place. The Lady Falcons outdistanced themselves from second-place Virginia State University 157-115. Bowie State University was third with 87.5 points followed by Shaw University (83), Winston-Salem State University (77.5), Johnson C. Smith University (38), Livingstone College (35) and Lincoln (Pa.) University (20).

Magaly Tshipopo of Saint Augustine's won Women's Field MVP. She swept the long jump, high jump and triple jump.

Brandon Valentine-Parris of Saint Augustine earned Men's Track MVP honors and Justin Williams took Men's Field MVP. Valentine-Parris won the 200 and 400 dashes and was a member of the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. Williams won the triple jump and finished third in the long jump, tied for fourth in the high jump and placed fourth in the pole vault and javelin throw.

The SAU winners in the men's events were Shaquille Dill of Saint Augustine's (800 run, 1500 run), Dakarai Hightower of Saint Augustine's (high jump), Najair Jackson of Saint Augustine's (javelin throw), Valentine-Parris of Saint Augustine's (200 dash, 400 dash), Williams of Saint Augustine's (triple jump) and Damere Gilbert of Saint Augustine's (100 dash). Saint Augustine's won the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

The SAU winners in the women's events were Tshipopo of Saint Augustine's (high jump, long jump, triple jump), Shakera Hall of Saint Augustine's (100 hurdles), Shannon Kalawan of Saint Augustine's (400 dash) and Amanda Crawford of Saint Augustine's (200 dash),  Saint Augustine's won the 4x100 relay.

SAINT AUGUSTINE'S UNIVERSITY FALCONS SPORTS INFORMATION

Albany State Golden Rams Crowned SIAC Baseball Champions

ALBANY, Georgia -- The Albany State University Golden Rams left little doubt from the first pitch of Sunday's SIAC Baseball Championship.

The Golden Rams opened the first inning with a 12-0 scoring outburst and coasted to a 19-2 victory to claim the 2018 SIAC Baseball Championship in a shortened seven innings. This represents the Rams' tenth conference title in school history, their first since 2015.

Tyler Wilcher went the distance in the championship game, striking out six while allowing two earned runs. With the game all but decided, the Thorobreds narrowly avoided a shutout with runs in the bottom of the sixth courtesy of a 2RBI single from Cameron Starks.

Nic Griggs finished the afternoon a home run short of hitting for the cycle and Tyler Morris was the named the tournament's most valuable player. Michael Reddick, Trey McMillan and Riliani Familia were also tabbed for the 2018 All-Tournament Team.

The Thorobreds expended three on their pitching staff in the top of the first to try and slow ASU's early momentum. KSU trailed by only one (1-0), but three consecutive bases loaded walks gave ASU a 4-0 lead and prompted the Thorobred's first pitching change of the inning. With the bases loaded, KSU's Eric Anderson hit the first batter he faced Chasen Roulhac, granting him first base and moving the score to 5-0.

Kelvin Wimbish then doubled to left center, sending Lawrence Hyde and Kelvin Dodson across home plate and Riliani Familia drove two more in with a single up the middle. Two more doubles scored two more runs for ASU and Kentucky State was forced again to call to the the bullpen this time to send Joe Crisp to the mound. Crisp gave up a single to Tyler Morris and after an RBI SAC bunt from Ryan McClendon, got Dodson to foul out to third base. After Hyde reached on a walk, the inning mercifully came to a close as Roulhac popped up to short.

ASU padded their lead with a five run fifth inning. It began with an RBI triple from Griggs and two batters later, McClendon sent Griggs home with an RBI double to left field. A KSU error led Tyler Morris home and Roulhac's single to right drove in two more for a 17-0 advantage.

BOX SCORE

In their final at bat, Familia plated Hyde with a single to left field and a bases loaded walk from Vashawn Phillips, the Thorobreds fourth pitcher of the day, accounted for the final point spread.

The Golden Rams (28-16) will now await next week's NCAA Division II Playoff pairings as they receive an automatic berth as the conference champions.

ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY GOLDEN RAMS SPORTS INFORMATION

Kupferberg, Howard Bison Volleyball Unveil 2018 Schedule

*Click "Get @HUBisonVB to Africa" link at the top to give your donation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Coach Shaun Kupferberg and the Howard University Women's Volleyball team unveiled its 2018 schedule, including trips to Texas and New Jersey while hosting perennial powerhouses inside Burr Gymnasium. The announcement came Thursday evening.
 
"We are very excited about our upcoming schedule," Kupferberg stated. "Our seniors get a chance to travel home with our trips to Texas and New Jersey, that will be great for them and their families. We also get a chance to host three of the top teams in the country in our home gym."
 
Witchita State (Aug. 26) and Power Five foes Stanford (Aug. 27) and Penn State (Sept. 14) headline the Bison's 2018 campaign as all three programs reached the NCAA Tournament.
 
Witchita State went undefeated in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) and has emerged as one of the nation's elite while the Cardinals and Nittany Lions are women's volleyball's bluebloods, each with a record seven national championships. A year ago, Stanford and Penn State advanced to the NCAA Semifinals.
 
Before meeting the Shockers and Cardinals, Howard opens its new season with crosstown rival George Washington inside The Burr (Aug. 24), followed by a quick trip to Fairfax, Va. for a date against George Mason (Aug. 25).
 
On Aug. 31-Sept. 1, several Bison return to the Lone Star State for a three-match tourney, hosted by Lamar.
 
Before taking on the Nittany Lions, Howard goes to Piscataway, N.J. where they will face Rutgers (Sept. 7), Navy (Sept. 7), and Tulane (Sept. 8).
 
Howard stays in The District for a pair of tough matches against American (Sept. 15) and Buffalo (Sept. 15) at Bender Arena, followed by two home contests versus UMBC (Sept. 18) and North Carolina A&T State (Sept. 23).
 
On Sept. 25, HU closes out the large portion of the nonconference slate at Loyola (Md.).
 
"Playing a strong out of conference schedule will help our team get back to the NCAA Tournament," Kupferberg stated. "We have a good range of matches with quality opponents throughout the first few weeks. These contests are great measuring sticks of how competitive we are and the progress we need to make throughout the year to be ready in December."
 
Howard opens league play hosting Morgan State (Sept. 28) and Coppin State (Sept. 30).
 
HU starts October with a three-match road swing at Delaware State (Oct. 5), Maryland Eastern Shore (Oct. 7), and Norfolk State (Oct. 12).
 
After meeting Bethune-Cookman (Oct. 21), the Bison finish its road slate against Morgan State (Oct. 26) and Coppin State (Oct. 28).
 
In November, Howard concludes its regular season with a three-match home stand versus Delaware State (Nov. 2), Maryland Eastern Shore (Nov. 4), and Norfolk State (Nov. 9).
 
On Nov. 16-18, Howard Athletics hosts the 2018 MEAC Championships inside The Burr where Coach Kupferberg and the Bison seek their fourth straight conference title, 11thoverall in program history.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

Howard University Athletics
2018 Women's Volleyball Schedule

AUG 24 (FRI) / 7PM VS GEORGE WASHINGTON WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
AUG 25 (SAT) / 5PM AT GEORGE MASON FAIRFAX, VA
AUG 26 (SUN) / 3PM VS WICHITA STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
AUG 27 (MON) / 7PM VS STANFORD WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
AUG 31 (FRI) / 10AM VS TEXAS SOUTHERN BEAUMONT, TX
AUG 31 (FRI) / 7PM AT LAMAR BEAUMONT, TX
SEP 1 (SAT) / 11AM VS SOUTHERN BEAUMONT, TX
SEP 7 (FRI) / 10:30AM AT RUTGERS PISCATAWAY, NJ
SEP 7 (FRI) / 7PM VS NAVY PISCATAWAY, NJ
SEP 8 (SAT) / 11AM VS TULANE PISCATAWAY, NJ
SEP 14 (FRI) / 7PM VS PENN STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
SEP 15 (SAT) / TBA AT AMERICAN WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEP 15 (SAT) / TBA VS BUFFALO WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEP 18 (TUE) / 7PM VS UMBC WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
SEP 23 (SUN) / 3PM VS NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
SEP 25 (TUE) / 7PM AT LOYOLA (MD.) BALTIMORE, MD
SEP 28 (FRI) / 7PM VS MORGAN STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
SEP 30 (SUN) / 3PM VS COPPIN STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
OCT 5 (FRI) / 7PM AT DELAWARE STATE DOVER, DE
OCT 7 (SUN) / 3PM AT MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE PRINCESS ANNE, MD
OCT 12 (FRI) / 7PM AT NORFOLK STATE NORFOLK, VA
OCT 21 (SUN) / 3PM VS BETHUNE-COOKMAN WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
OCT 26 (FRI) / 7PM AT MORGAN STATE BALTIMORE, MD
OCT 28 (SUN) / AT COPPIN STATE BALTIMORE, MD
NOV 2 (FRI) / 7PM VS DELAWARE STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
NOV 4 (SUN) / 3PM VS MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM
NOV 9 (FRI) / 7PM VS NORFOLK STATE WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM

MEAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOV 16 (FRI) - NOV 18 (SUN) VS MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
WASHINGTON, D.C. / BURR GYMNASIUM