Alabama A&M set to renew old UNA rivarly

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Yurik Bethune knows the stakes.

Even though it's not a conference game, the Alabama A&M outside linebacker understands the value of playing an in-state opponent.

Especially when the opponent is only located about 80 miles away from campus.

Alabama A&M hosts North Alabama on Saturday, renewing an old football series that once was played almost every year. Kickoff at Louis Crews Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Because a large crowd is expected, fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Alabama A&M ticket office at 256-372-4700 or visiting www.aamutix.universitytickets.com.



"There is a lot of excitement around campus," said Bethune, who was named the SWAC's Defensive Player of the Week following a strong performance in the Bulldogs' 37-0 win against Miles. Bethune finished with six tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and three quarterback pressures.

"Both teams are coming off good wins to open the season. And because of how close our schools are in location, it seems like everyone is excited about the matchup."

UNA (1-0), which is playing its first season as a Division I FCS program, opened the season last week with a 34-30 win at Southern Utah.

Alabama A&M and UNA have played 22 times, with the Lions holding an 18-3-1 advantage in the series. The last time the two Tennessee Valley programs played was in 1997, with UNA winning 49-20 in front of a crowd of 19,487 at Louis Crews Stadium.

For Alabama A&M (1-0), the prominent storyline from Week 1 was the Bulldogs' defense. Alabama A&M held Miles to 115 total yards, with just 80 on the ground. Miles also was held to just one third-down conversion in 13 attempts.

Dating back to last season, Alabama A&M now has posted a shutout in six consecutive quarters. The last points surrendered by the Bulldogs was in the second quarter of last season's finale against Kentucky State.

"Defensively, we played extremely well," Alabama A&M coach Connell Maynor said. "Our front seven, especially our front four, dominated the line-of-scrimmage. Those guys did exactly what we know they are capable of doing."

Through the first three quarters, Alabama A&M produced points on almost every possession.

Sophomore quarterback Aqeel Glass made plays in the passing game, completing 10 of 18 attempts for 185 yards and two touchdowns, and all four running backs used by Alabama A&M averaged more than 5.5 yards per carry.

Freshman running back Gary Quarles led Alabama A&M with 51 rushing yards and a touchdown, averaging 7.3 yards per carry, while junior Jordan Bentley rushed for 45 yards and a score — averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

"Coming into the game, we wanted to spread the ball around and get everyone involved," Glass said. "After watching the film, I feel like we did some good things — some things we can build on.

"There is a lot of excitement about this game. We're excited to get this opportunity, not only because we're playing for our team and our school, but because we get an opportunity to play for HBCUs across the country."

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY BULLDOGS ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Missouri State Home Football Opener with Lincoln University of Missouri Moved to 11 a.m. CDT Start

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri -- Due to anticipated heavy thunderstorms in the Springfield area Thursday (Sept. 6) afternoon and evening, Missouri State University's football home opener against Lincoln University of Missouri will be moved to an 11 a.m. CDT kickoff Thursday at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
 
With classes in session Thursday morning, BearFest Village tailgating activities will not be held, and parking will be on a first-come, first-served basis in all university lots. Shuttle services are available at no charge for fans parking in the BearPark North parking garage.
 
The game will air live on 101.3 FM KTXR locally, along with participating MSU Bears Radio Network affiliates. However, the game will not be shown on ESPN3, as originally scheduled.
 
Tickets for the game are still available in all sections by calling (417) 836-7678 or visiting MissouriStateBears.com. Missouri State students are admitted free of charge with a valid BearPass ID.

COURTESY: MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATION

Le Guillou, Price-Spraggins garner GCAC weekly awards

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball sophomores Eva Le Guillouand Vivica Price-Spraggins are recipients of Gulf Coast Athletic Conference weekly awards for Aug. 27-Sept. 2. Le Guillou is Setter of the Week, and Price-Spraggins is Defender of the Week.
     
Both honors were announced Tuesday.
     
Le Guillou, from Velizy-Villacoublay, France, produced 152 assists, 33 digs, 12 blocks and six aces in four matches at XULA's Big Easy Blastoff. She had three consecutive assist-dig double-doubles, and she served a career-high-tying four aces in a victory against Point. Her nine total blocks Saturday in victories against Martin Methodist and Webber International were one more than the first 32 matches of her XULA career.
     
Price-Spraggins, from Chicago and a graduate of Whitney Young Magnet High School, recorded eight blocks three times in 31 hours at the Big Easy Blastoff. In a victory against Webber International (2017 NAIA nationals qualifier), she became the first XULA player to reach eight blocks in a three-set match. Price-Spraggins also sparkled offensively during the four matches, hitting .554 with 44 kills and only three errors in 74 attacks.
     
Le Guillou has won both GCAC Setter of the Week awards this season, and she has five in her career. Price-Spraggins's award was her first this season and the second of her career.
     
XULA (6-2) will compete Friday and Saturday in Alabama at the University of Mobile Invitational. Its Tuesday home match against Tougaloo was postponed until Oct. 15 due to the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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North Carolina A&T Aggies Makes Major Jump In National Polls

EAST GREENSBORO , North Carolina – North Carolina A&T football secured its highest ranking in a media poll in 25 years when they reached No. 5 in the nation in the latest FCS STATS media poll.

The American Football Coaches Association Coaches poll’s latest rankings have the Aggies at No. 6. The Aggies have been a part of the coaches poll for 35 straight weeks. The BoxToRow black college football poll has N.C. A&T ranked No. 1 ranked once again. The Aggies have been ranked 58 straight weeks in the black college poll. In 37 of those weeks, the Aggies have been BoxToRow’s top-ranked team.

But the media poll is where the Aggies made the biggest wave. They earned two first-place votes to tie their highest national ranking in school history. N.C. A&T reached No. 5 in the FCS media poll in 1993 after a 6-0 start that included wins over Appalachian State, Western Carolina and Liberty.



N.C. A&T is there again after a 2-0 start that includes wins over then No. 6 Jacksonville State and FBS in-state foe East Carolina. N.C. A&T garnered first-place votes in a national poll for the first time in school history. The Aggies top-5 ranking will be on the line on Saturday when the Aggies face Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m., at BB&T Stadium. It will serve as the Aggies home opener.

“We’re so excited to get back here you just don’t know,” said N.C. A&T coach Sam Washington. “They asked me last night what I wanted. I said I want to go home. It was a very long weekend, it’s been a very long camp and a long trip to Montgomery. We are so excited to come back and play at home.”

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY AGGIES SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU's Delano Spencer Heading to Poland on First Pro Deal

DELANO SPENCER BIO – TSUTIGERS.COM

NASHVILLE, Tennessee --- Delano Spencer (Atlanta, Ga.), the top scorer for the Tennessee State men’s basketball team during the 2017-18 season, will officially begin his professional career with AZS Koszalin in Poland. The 2018 TSU graduate was the 10th leading scorer in the Ohio Valley Conference a year ago with 15.5 points per game.

“I’m happy to fulfill my dreams of becoming a professional basketball player,” Spencer said. "I appreciate everything TSU has done for me. I want to thank God and everybody who has been on this journey – family, coaches, teammates and friends – with me to this point. It’s truly a blessing for me and my family.”

Spencer transferred to Tennessee State prior to the 2016-17 season after two standout seasons at Coffeyville Community College. The shooting guard proved to be an explosive scoring option for the Tigers, posting 707 points to go with 150 rebounds and 59 assists in his two years in Nashville.

• For TSU, Spencer appeared in 59 games with 36 starts from 2016-18.
• The 6-3 guard posted 37 double-digit scoring efforts.  
• As a senior in 2017-18, Spencer scored 20 points or more in a game on seven occasions.
• In one of his last career home games, the senior put up a career-high 32 points in a victory over Morehead State.
• The Atlanta native also registered 14 points at Kansas, 26 versus Lipscomb and 23 points at Belmont during his senior season.
• Since the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, TSU has had seven men’s basketball players transition into the professional game: Delano Spencer, Darreon Reddick, Tahjere McCall, Keron DeShields, Wayne Martin, Xavier Richards and Jordan Reed all signed their first pro deals.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Ken'Darrius Hamilton Signs with Professional Team in Cyprus

KEN’DARRIUS HAMILTON BIO – TSUTIGERS.COM

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Former Tennessee State men’s basketball forward Ken’Darrius Hamilton (Montgomery, Ala.) will begin his professional career with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus.

Hamilton played two seasons (2016-18) at TSU after transferring from Meridian Community College. The 6’9 forward played in 56 career games with 40 starts during his TSU career. He posted 7.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game with 35 total blocks.

• Hamilton increased his scoring average from 7.1 points per game as a junior to 8.5 during his senior season in 2017-18.
• The versatile big man made 52 three pointers in his two years at TSU, including 29 a year ago.
• Hamilton posted 19 career games with 10 or more points for the Tigers, including two double-doubles.
• His career high for points of 21 came on Feb. 9, 2017 at Tennessee Tech, while his season high as a senior was 19 points.
• Since the conclusion of the 2015-16 season, former TSU players to ink their first professional deals include: Hamilton, Delano Spencer, Darreon Reddick, Tahjere McCall, Keron DeShields, Wayne Martin, Xavier Richards and Jordan Reed.

TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA RELATIONS

Poll climb: Nuggets collect 1st-ever national votes

NEW ORLEANS — Ten days after earning its first-ever victory against a ranked opponent, Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball produced another first Tuesday: points in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
     
The Gold Nuggets (6-2) received four points from a panel of 19 coaches and ranked 38th among the 39 teams receiving votes. XULA is the first Gulf Coast Athletic Conference team to receive votes since former member Mobile in November 2009.
     
"It's a boost for our program that we are becoming nationally recognized," second-year XULA head coach Pat Kendrick said.
     
XULA defeated then-No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan in four sets Aug. 25 at the Mid-South Crossover Challenge in Bowling Green, Ky. This is the 11th season of XULA volleyball. Prior to the Indiana Wesleyan match, the Gold Nuggets were 0-14 against top-25 teams.
    
The next rankings will be announced Sept. 19.

XULA's Tuesday home match against Tougaloo was postponed until Oct. 15 due to the approach of Tropical Storm Gordon. Weather permitting, the Gold Nuggets' next competition will be Friday and Saturday in Alabama at the University of Mobile Invitational — four matches in all.
    

NAIA Women's Volleyball Coaches' Top 25 Poll (first-place votes in parentheses — records through Sept. 2) Rank Previous School Record Points 1 5 Park (Mo.) (17) 5-0 528 2 9 Grand View (Iowa) (1) 7-0 508 3 14 Columbia (Mo.) 5-1 487 4 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (1) 8-2 486 5 4 Viterbo (Wis.) 8-3 440 6 RV Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 11-1 439 7 6 Westmont (Calif.) 8-1 422 8 11 Midland (Neb.) 8-2 418 9 3 Missouri Baptist 11-2 395 10 13 Southern Oregon 10-0 385 11 10 Hastings (Neb.) 4-0 366 12 2 Dordt (Iowa) 5-1 338 13 RV Vanguard (Calif.) 11-1 306 14 7 College of Idaho 6-4 296 15 NR Providence (Mont.) 7-1 289 16 7 Northwestern (Iowa) 7-3 254 17 RV Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) 10-1 238 18 17 Georgetown (Ky.) 6-1 205 19 NR Saint Francis (Ind.) 11-2 195 19 20 Madonna (Mich.) 5-0 195 21 15 Eastern Oregon 6-4 183 22 18 Doane (Neb.) 6-2 153 23 12 Montana Tech 6-5 129 24 21 Bellevue (Neb.) 5-3 125 25 NR The Master's (Calif.) 10-3 111 Dropped from the rankings: No. 16 Cornerstone (Mich.), No. 19 Corban (Ore.), No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan, No. 23 Ottawa (Kan.),No. 24 Northwest (Wash.), No. 25 Jamestown (N.D.)  Others receiving votes: Corban 102, SAGU (Texas) 95, Aquinas (Mich.) 73, Central Methodist (Mo.) 65, Jamestown (N.D.) 52, McPherson (Kan.) 51, Saint Xavier (Ill.) 27, Reinhardt (Ga.) 23, Campbellsville (Ky.) 23, Lourdes (Ohio) 22, William Woods (Mo.) 8, Ottawa (Kan.) 7, Xavier (La.) 4, Trinity Christian (Ill.) 3 Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications XULAgold.com XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA  twitter.com/xulagold www.facebook.com/xulagold

Gordon gets in the way, XULA conference opener postponed

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana closed at 4 p.m. Tuesday due to the approach of Gordon in the Gulf of Mexico, and as a result the Gold Nuggets' home volleyball match against Tougaloo was postponed.
     
The match, also scheduled for Tuesday, was to have been XULA's Gulf Coast Athletic Conference opener. It has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 15 at XULA's Convocation Center.
     
The Gold Nuggets' all-time record on Sept. 4: one win, three losses and three weather postponements. Also washed out on that date because of tropical activity were matches against city rival Loyola in 2011 and 2012.
     
Tropical Storm Gordon was expected to make landfall near the Mississippi and Alabama border Tuesday night. The National Weather Service said Gordon could strengthen and become a Category 1 hurricane.
     
Next for XULA, weather permitting, will be a trip to Alabama for the University of Mobile Invitational. The Nuggets will play Friday at 2 p.m. against Mobile and 6 p.m. against St. Thomas (Texas) and Saturday at 2 p.m. against Life and 4 p.m. against William Carey. Inheriting the role of XULA's first GCAC opponent will be city rival Dillard — 1 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Convocation Center.
    
 XULA is 6-2 after winning 3-of-4 matches in its Big Easy Blastoff this past week.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Alabama A&M Football Review with " Coach Connell Maynor"

NEXT GAME: SEPT. 8, 2018, TIME: 6:00 PM, ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY vs. UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA, Lewis Crew Stadium, Huntsville

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Hardin: North Carolina A&T Aggies' two-day odyssey ends well

GREENVILLE, North Carolina — When the long weekend finally ended, a historic win streak continued.

N.C. A&T’s stunning 28-23 win over East Carolina sent a shockwave across the state and a seismic shift here in Greenville.

The game ended in a delirious final sequence that left a sparse crowd of ECU fans booing their team and a spirited traveling pack of Aggies shrieking over another win over another FBS program, this one an improbable two-day victory that might ultimately be one of the most memorable in A&T history.

The lightning and rain from Saturday night washed the game into a sweltering Sunday afternoon. Almost no one came to watch, which made for a strange end to a 36-hour slog with the elements.



A&T headed back home with a gut-wrenching win and will now face Gardner-Webb then begin its defense of MEAC and national championships.

The trip to Greenville was meant to be a payday for the school and a road trip experience in one of the coolest game-day atmospheres in North Carolina. Let’s just say the atmosphere in Greensboro would’ve been better.

CONTINUE READING

AAMU Volleyball Rallies Late to Topple Memphis On the Road

AAMU ROSTER

MEMPHIS, Tennessee -- The Alabama A&M University volleyball team never lost faith in Wednesday's non-conference match, prevailing by a 3-2 score over The University of Memphis. The hosting Tigers gained an early 2-1 advantage, but the Lady Bulldogs swung the momentum back in its own direction in the fourth and fifth sets to claim the victory.

With its nail-biting 3-2 (16-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-17, 15-13) victory, Alabama A&M picked up its third non-conference match of the season and garnered some momentum heading into the Southern Illinois Invitational on Friday.

Freshman Alana Cox (Madison, Ala.) led a potent Lady Bulldogs attack with 14 kills with only four attack errors and a .312 attack percentage. Sophomore Maya Evans (Houston,Tex.) was a force at the net with 13 kills, three blocks and served two aces. Gant contributed 11 kills.

"I am so proud of the fight I saw in our team tonight," Head Coach Rose Powell said. "We had some individuals step up and play a big role in the in. We will us this to build on this coming weekend tournament."

Junior Astonia Gray (Dekalb, Tex.) had all of her five kills in the all-important fifth set, with a .714 attack percentage, while setter Megan Evans (Houston, Tex.) passed out 36 assists.

First-year Maci Battle (Meridianville, Ala.) led the back-row defense with a game-high 20 digs, followed by Gant who added 12.

BOX SCORE

ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

First look: After top 10 win, Auburn returns home to host Alabama State

Auburn (1-0) vs. Alabama State (1-0)
When: Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. CT
TV:  SEC Network Alternate
Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium
Betting line: N/A

Hornets this season:
Alabama State is in its first full season under coach Donald Hill-Eley, who led the Hornets to a 5-1 mark to end last season as the interim coach. The Hornets were picked to finish second in the SWAC East in the preseason and had six preseason second team All-SWAC honorees.

After opening with a 26-20 overtime win over Tuskegee, its first win in the rivalry since 2011, ASU opens a six-game road stretch at Auburn. It will be one of two FBS games this season for ASU, which travels to South Alabama on Oct. 13.

While the Hornets are not expected to pose any challenge to Auburn, the game is significant because it is ASU's first ever trip to the Plains.

Impact player: QB Darryl Pearson Jr.
Pearson, a redshirt-sophomore, threw for a career-high 164 yards with a touchdown and had 15 rushing yards and a score in a 26-20 overtime win over Tuskegee in the Labor Day Classic.

He was a preseason second team All-SWAC selection.

ASU head coach Donald Hill-Eley gives his thoughts following the win over Tuskegee. pic.twitter.com/VJdNcirLQ5

— Kamarri Darrington (@kamarrid) September 2, 2018

CONTINUE READING

Jones Plans To Run In Hopes of Rebuilding Morgan Football

http://www.hsrn.com/

BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Morgan State’s interim head coach Ernest Jones plans to run into the challenge of rebuilding the football program. In an era of run pass option (RPO) offense Jones prefers limiting the pass, focusing on the rush, and hard nose defense as they look to restore credibility to the program which is three years removed from sharing a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

“This is a new day and are creating a new identity on offense,” Jones said to the AFRO. “We don’t care who knows it. We are going to line up and give the ball to our bruising, physical running backs. You may know what’s coming but it will be hard to stop”.

ones faces an uphill battle as he tries to re-energize their students, fan base, and keep the team motivated. The Bears are ineligible for postseason this year as the program failed to meet the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 930 for the second time in three years. The APR monitors eligibility and student-athletes’ progress toward graduation. Despite the improvement from 893 to 920 Morgan State can only be a spoiler to teams who are contending for the MEAC title and berth in the Celebration Bowl.

CONTINUE REAFDING

North Carolina A&T #AggiePride Takes Down Yet Another FBS

GREENVILLE, North Carolina – When North Carolina A&T quarterback Lamar Raynard (6-foot-4, 195, R-SR, High Point, N.C.) comes to the sideline after a series, there is one guy he can always count on to uplift him whether the series was good or bad and that’s the Aggies backup quarterback, Kylil Carter (5-10, 236, R-JR, Austell, Ga.).

On Sunday at East Carolina, the Walter Payton Award hopeful and reigning Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Year did not see it beneath him to do the same for Carter.

Carter came in to relieve Raynard late in the third quarter after Raynard went to the bench with an injury. Carter simply did what Carter often does when he is asked to pinch-hit. He led the Aggies to a come-from-behind win. Carter led the Aggies on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to down ECU 28-23 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

“I could have returned but Kylil was rolling,” said Raynard, who owns several single-season N.C. A&T school records. “You don't want to mess that up. You don't take out the guy with the hot hand. He's got to stay in the game. He was perfect today."

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but because of inclement weather in Greenville Saturday night, the game was moved to Sunday afternoon. The Aggies came into the game ranked 14thin the nation in Division I-FCS play. They improved to 2-0 by securing another colossus win. The win over the Pirates (0-1) marks the third straight year the Aggies have defeated a Division I-FBS program. This time they took down a team that plays in one of the better conferences in the country, the American Athletic Conference. It is the same conference that produced 13-0 Central Florida last season.

In the last three years, the Aggies have not only knocked off three FBS foes, they have also defeated two ranked FCS foes, both of whom were among the top-15 teams in the nation at the time N.C. A&T won.

“We have a bunch of guys who have a will to win,” said N.C. A&T coach Sam Washington who saw his team extend the longest current FCS winning streak in the nation to 14 games. N.C. A&T matched Central Florida for the longest current win streak amongst Division I teams.

“You can see that will to win every time these guys step on the field,” Washington continued. “When you have a bunch of guys who are willing to fight until the final whistle you can’t help but be successful. I’m proud of the way these guys hung in there. These men truly believe they can line up and be successful against any team in the country.”

N.C. A&T’s determination extends to its backup QB. With 2:47 remaining in the third quarter and the Aggies trailing 20-14, Raynard ran to left for a 2-yard gain. During the play, an ECU defender stepped on Raynard’s hard forcing him out of the game. In stepped Carter who three years ago came in relief for a banged up N.C. A&T QB unit and threw a game-winning TD to beat S.C. State.

Two years ago, he came in to relieve Raynard and helped the Aggies defeat Kent State for the Aggies first-ever FBS win. Carter’s ability as a running quarterback paid off immediately on Sunday. On his first play, he handed the ball off to running back Marquell Cartwright (5-8, 203, R-SR, High Point, N.C.) and finished out the fake forcing some of the ECU defense to follow him instead of focusing on Cartwright who ripped off a 33-yard gain. Carter had 14 yards rushing on the drive that ended with him finding receiver Zachary Leslie (6-3, 204, R-SO, Lawndale, N.C.) for a gorgeous one-hand 5-yard touchdown reception that gave the Aggies a 21-20 lead going into the fourth quarter.

“I always believe if you stay ready you don’t have to get ready,” said Carter.

A 22-yard field goal by ECU’s Jake Verity gave the Pirates the lead back at 23-21 with 10:02 to play. But Carter returned to the field and connected with a wide-open Malik Wilson (5-11, 166, R-SR, Burlington, N.C.) for a 49-yard reception on a crucial 3rd-and-14 from the Aggies 21-yard line. Wilson’s reception led to a 17-yard TD reception from Carter to receiver Elijah Bell (6-1, 222, JR, Wheeling, WVa.) to give the Aggies the lead for good at 28-23 with 7:05 remaining. It was Bell’s 21st career TD reception putting five away from the career school record.

The Aggies then turned the game over to their defense. After surrendering 50 plays to the Pirates in the first half, the Pirates were only able to get off seven plays on their next two drives. ECU had one more chance at the win as they took over at their own 38 with 2:07 to play. But on the final play of the game from the Aggies 37, ECU quarterback Reid Herring had his pass fall out of the hands of his receiver and into the hands of Aggies cornerback Timadre Abram (5-10, 168, R-SR, Lakeland, Fla.).

The Aggies are now 3-4 against FBS opponents and they are 170-79-9 all-time against in-state schools. Mac McCain III (5-11, 173, R-SO, Greensboro, N.C.) had a big day for N.C. A&T with 11 tackles four passes defenses and he posted his second career 100-yard interception return for a touchdown with a pick-6 in the first quarter that halted an ECU scoring threat and gave N.C. A&T a 7-3 lead.

ATTENDANCE:  38,640
BOX SCORE

Raynard led the Aggies on a key drive at the end of the first half as N.C. A&T went 86 yards in 11 plays. Leslie caught one of his two TD passes on the day with a 12-yard reception that slipped through the arms of an ECU defender into his arms to cut the Pirates lead to 17-14 at the half.

The Aggies will finally get a chance to play at home as they will host Gardner-Webb 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 8 at BB&T Stadium.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Fontaine is fine as Nuggets feast on final day

NEW ORLEANS — Monet Fontaine hit .373 with 29 kills Saturday to lead Xavier University of Louisiana to a pair of victories on the final day of the Big Easy Blastoff volleyball tournament at the Convocation Center.

The Gold Nuggets defeated Martin Methodist 17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14 during the afternoon, then roared back in the evening with a 25-19, 25-23, 25-14 thumping of Webber International, a 2017 NAIA national tournament qualifier.

XULA (6-2) won 3-of-4 matches in its third annual home tournament. The Gold Nuggets will begin their quest for an eighth consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship in a 6 p.m. Tuesday home match against Tougaloo.
     
Fontaine had career highs of 15 kills and nine digs against Martin Methodist.

BOX SCORE 1    BOX SCORE 2
     
Fontaine and teammate Vivica Price-Spraggins were named to the 10-player all-tournament team. Price-Spraggins hit .554 with 44 kills and 25 blocks in four matches. Price-Spraggins had 12 kills, eight blocks and hit a career-best .706 against Webber.
     
"We got better as the day went on," XULA coach Pat Kendrick said. "We got steady play out of Viv, and Monet gave us a spark off the bench."

2018 Big Easy Blastoff all-tournament team
(10 selected . . . no MVP was chosen)

Mirella Gatterdam, Mobile
Avery Wasdin, Mobile
Julia Felix, Point
Kaitlyn Lund, Martin Methodist
Hayley Brisendine, Martin Methodist
Virginia Salanoa-Sagapolu, Webber International
Sury Santos, Webber International
Gillian Tripp, William Carey
Monet Fontaine, XULA
Vivica Price-Spraggins, XULA

2018 Big Easy Blastoff final standings
(no champion was declared)
3-1 XULA
2-1 Mobile
2-2 Martin Methodist
2-2 Point
2-2 Webber International
0-1 SUNO
0-2 William Carey

2018 Big Easy Blastoff scores
Friday, Aug. 31
Point d. Martin Methodist 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17)
Webber International d. Mobile 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-21)
XULA d. Point 3-2 (25-14, 25-27, 25-18, 26-28, 15-10)
Martin Methodist d. Webber International 3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-10)
Mobile d. XULA 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-22)

Saturday, Sept. 1
Martin Methodist d. SUNO 3-0 (25-13, 25-15, 25-16)
Mobile d. Point 3-2 (25-16, 25-27, 25-15, 21-25, 15-12)
Webber International d. William Carey 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-21)
XULA d. Martin Methodist 3-1 (17-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-14)
Point d. William Carey 3-1 (25-19, 25-23, 18-25, 25-23)
XULA d. Webber International 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-14)

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
twitter.com/xulagold
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Nuggets split 2 matches before a record home crowd

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana defeated Point 25-14, 25-27, 25-18, 26-28, 15-10 Friday, then lost 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 to Mobile in the Big Easy Blastoff volleyball tournament.
     
A crowd of 523 — largest ever for volleyball at XULA's Convocation Center — watched all five teams finish the day 1-1. The two-day tournament will conclude Saturday, including XULA matches against Martin Methodist at 3 p.m. and Webber International at 7 p.m.
     
Vivica Price-Spraggins hit .538 and had career highs of 16 kills and eight blocks against Point. Marine Angely had 16 kills, a career high, and nine digs. Kayla Black had 15 kills and a season-high 16 digs.
     
Black had 14 kills against Mobile, and Angely had 12 kills and 11 digs.
     
"Both Point and Mobile pushed us to compete," XULA coach Pat Kendrick said. "With this early competition, we're trying to discover who we are."
     
Price-Spraggins hit .511 for the day — 25 kills and two errors in 45 attacks — and is hitting ,441 for the season.
     
"Viv has been consistent," Kendrick said. "If we can get her the ball, she can do good things with it."
     
Black had five kills and Angely three in the fifth set against Point and gave the Gold Nuggets their first five-set home victory in six years.
     
Mirella Gatterdam had 12 kills and four acaes against XULA. The Gold Nuggets have dropped eight straight to the Lady Rams since beating them 2-of-3 times in 2013. XULA will get another shot at Mobile in the Lady Rams' tournament next week.
     
The previous Convocation Center attendance record for volleyball was 511 for a XULA-Dillard match in 2015. This is XULA's sixth season in the $25 million facility.
     
Also Friday, Point defeated Martin Methodist 21-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-17, Webber International beat Mobile 25-21, 25-21, 25-21, and Martin Methodist defeated Webber International 25-19, 25-20, 25-10.

BOX SCORE 1    BOX SCORE 2

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Howard University Swimming's Latroya Pina Set to Compete in 2020 Summer Olympics

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Howard University senior swimmer Latroya Pina (Seekonk, Mass.) will swim for Cape Verde at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.

Pina, alongside her siblings, Troy and Jayla, were selected to represent the Cape Verde National Swim Team in the Confederation Africaine de Natation Championship Meet, scheduled for Sept. 10-16 in Algeria.

"It's not far-fetched, three members of one family all going to the World Championships and the Olympic Games," said Pina to The Sun Chronicle. "We're not just swimming for our colleges or schools, but for a nation so we want to do our best."

The family is part of the first team from the African nation island that fielded at the competition; thus, granted an automatic berth to the Summer Games.

"To represent your country at the Olympic level is every swimmers dream," said Howard Swimming & Diving Head Coach Nicholas Askew. "We are excited for Latroya [Pina] and have no doubt, she will make Howard University and Cape Verde very proud."

During the 2017-18 season, Pina was selected HU Bison of the Month for her outstanding performances in January. She won the women's 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley in Howard's Senior Night victory over Marymount. Pina led the way in the season finale at Catholic, claiming the top spots in the same events. The Massachusetts native was also part of two winning relay teams against the Cardinals: 200 medley and 200 freestyle.


Academically, the Biology major received multiple honors, including being named to the 2018 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Commissioner's All-Academic Team and 2018 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Spring President's Honor Roll List. Pina maintained a 3.6 or better during the 2017-18 academic calendar year.

After wrapping up her junior year in the pool, Pina joined the Howard Women's Lacrosse team in the spring where she saw action in nine matches.

The 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan begins Friday, July 24, 2020 through Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020.

Coach Askew and the Bison begin their 2018-19 season in September.

For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY BISON ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS