Gold Nuggets win at SUNO, improve win streak to 11

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana hit .300 for the sixth consecutive match, extending a school record, in a 25-14, 25-15, 25-11 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory Wednesday at city rival SUNO.
     
The Gold Nuggets (17-4, 8-0) have won 11 straight, tied for the third longest streak in program history. XULA won 13 in a row in 2017. The 2013 team set the school record of 20 consecutive victories.
     
XULA hit .429 in the first set and finished at .326.Marine Angely had nine kills to lead the Gold Nuggets for the third consecutive match. Vivica Price-Spraggins had eight kills, Jaida Dowd had seven, and Elena Duru had six.

BOX SCORE
     
Taikeidra Joseph had eight kills and Kennedy Williams seven for the Lady Knights (2-12, 2-7), who hit .022 and dropped their third in a row.
     
Dowd, a sophomore, played the right side for the first time this season and responded with a team-leading .667 hitting percentage in nine attacks. She had four blocks to tie her career high.
     
"I worked on the right side a little bit in practice this week," Dowd said, "but I didn't know I would play there until we got to SUNO. It was the first time in a long time I played the right side. I was a little nervous, but I knew I could do it. I knew I needed to be good for my team."
     
Angely hit .412 in 17 attacks, and Price-Spraggins hit .389 in 18 attacks. Eva Le Guillou and Tiffany Phillips had 17 assists apiece, Phillips and Price-Spraggins served two aces apiece, and Beatrice Formilan produced a match-high 11 digs before sitting out the third set. Adili Rikondja also had four blocks.
     
XULA had advantages of 38-24 in kills, 6-0 in aces, 39-34 in digs and 5-3 in blocks.
    
"We've just got to keep working to be consistent," said head coach Pat Kendrick, whose two-year XULA record is 40-7.
     
SUNO was the first of five XULA opponents in six days. Next for the Gold Nuggets will be three matches in Kentucky, starting with a 5 p.m. Friday match at NAIA No. 6 Lindsey Wilson, the 2017 national champion. The Blue Raiders have won 68 straight at home dating to 2013.
     
"We're excited to play the defending champions," Kendrick said, "and we're looking forward to a good weekend of volleyball."
     
XULA will play twice Saturday at Campbellsville University: 11 a.m. EDT against Fisk, then 3 p.m. against the host Lady Tigers. The Gold Nuggets' next home match will start at 6 p.m. Monday in the Convocation Center against Tougaloo (14-10, 8-0), which shares first place in the GCAC with XULA.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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Gold Rush alum, TV news legend Warner Saunders dies

In the photo of the 1956-57 XULA basketball team that accompanies this story, Warner Saunders is on the front row, fourth from the left.

NEW ORLEANS — Warner Saunders, a Xavier University of Louisiana men's basketball standout in the 1950s and a broadcasting legend in his hometown of Chicago, died Tuesday (Oct. 9, 2018) at age 83.
     
Saunders's wife told Chicado media that her husband collapsed Tuesday night in Chicago. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
     
Saunders, a 6-foot-5 center, played four seasons of varsity basketball for the Gold Rush (1953-57) and captained the team his senior year. He graduated, returned to Chicago and eventually became a television broadcaster. During his 40 years of broadcasting — the last 29 at WMAQ-TV (NBC 5), where he was a news anchor — Saunders won 20 Chicago Emmy awards and was inducted into the Chicago Journalism Hall of Fame and the Chicago Television Academy's Silver Circle.
     
He retired from WMAQ in May 2009.
     
From the 1930s through the 1950s, it was not unusual for XULA rosters to include athletes from Chicago high schools. Saunders, who graduated from Corpus Christi High, was part of the pipeline.
     
"My high school coach, Lawrence Bingley, played at Xavier," Saunders said in 2006. "That's how I made it down there."
     
As a XULA junior, Saunders scored 32 points in a 71-67 home victory against city rival Dillard on Jan. 11, 1956. XULA records indicate it was the first time a Gold Rush player reached 30 points.
    
 "I have so many memories from Xavier," Saunders said. "We had a great rivalry with Dillard. 

Another memory was when we walked into St. Michael's dormitory for the first time. That was a red-letter day. We had stayed in old Army barracks for two years. When we moved into the dormitory, we thought we had died and gone to heaven."

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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MEAC CCEO's Extend Commissioneir Thomas' Contract

NORFOLK, Virginia —The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Council of Chief Executive Officers (CCEOs) has extended the contract of Commissioner Dr. Dennis E. Thomas until September 2024.

“Over the last sixteen years, the MEAC has had steady and effective leadership in Commissioner Thomas,” Dr. David Wilson, Chair of the MEAC CCEOs and president at Morgan State University, said. “He has brought many innovations to the Conference and the Council of Presidents is quite pleased to extend his contract another five years.”

“I am honored and would like to thank Dr. Wilson, Chairman of the MEAC’s Council of Chief Executive Officers, and the council members for expressing their confidence in my leadership of the MEAC,” Thomas said. “We are seeing tectonic mutations in intercollegiate athletics from a student-athlete and financial perspective, among other things. I look forward to working with our member institutions to address these challenges and advance the agenda of providing student-athletes with a meaningful experience, a quality education and ultimately procuring their degrees.”

The 2018-19 academic year marks Thomas’ 17th year as commissioner. During his tenure, the conference has ensured its financial stability (balancing the budget for 16 consecutive years), increased new revenue streams, strengthened institutional compliance and improved student-athletes’ welfare and graduation rates.

 Commissioner Thomas' Major Accomplishments

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) begins its 48th year of intercollegiate competition heading into the 2018-19 academic school year. Located in Norfolk, Va., the MEAC is made up of 12 outstanding historically black institutions across the Atlantic coastline: Bethune-Cookman University, Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Florida A&M University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, Savannah State University and South Carolina State University.

MID-EASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEDIA RELATIONS

Eley meets with media in preparation for South Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Coming off a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) victory against four-time defending East champion, Alcorn State, Hornets head coach Donald Hill-Eley met with the media for his weekly press conference.

Alabama State (2-3, 1-1 SWAC) used five overtimes and a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the game to defeat Alcorn State 28-25 in Lorman (Miss.) and now set their sights on South Alabama, an FBS-member school from the Sun Belt Conference.



Kick is set for 4 pm at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile (Ala.), with the game carried on ESPN3. Fans can also listen to the contest on the Hornet Sports Network beginning at 3:30 pm with the pregame show.

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ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Interim tag removed, Jennifer Lynne Williams named Director of Athletics at ASU

Williams has served in interim role since October 2017

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- Alabama State University President, Dr. Quinton T. Ross, Jr. removed the interim tag from Jennifer Lynne Williams, announcing her as the new Director of Athletics at Alabama State University Wednesday afternoon.

"I would like to thank the search committee for their hard work in vetting the candidates for the position and making the recommendation for the University's Athletic Director," said Alabama State University President Quinton T. Ross Jr. "We are proud to be able to remove the interim title that Mrs. Williams has carried for the past year. During that time, she has done an outstanding job and has been highly success in leading the Athletics Department. We are excited to be able to continue the momentum that will move the department, as well as Alabama State University, forward."

Williams took over the helm of the department in October 2017 and helped celebrate the fifth consecutive Commissioner's Cup Award for the department in May, while also celebrating the eight conference championships won during the 2017-18 academic year. The Hornets also claimed four regular season championships, with three other teams finishing as conference runner-up in their respective sport. Alabama State had 37 student-athletes recognized as all-conference, won multiple coach of the year awards and had a Google Cloud Academic All-America selection this season under her guidance.

Not only did Alabama State shine on the field, but they also did in the classroom as well as every team reached the threshold to be eligible for postseason play according to the NCAA APR results. Two of the teams scored a perfect 1000 - women's cross country and bowling - and three others scored 990 or better.

"I would like to thank President Ross, our Chief of Staff Dr. Kevin Rolle, the search committee, and our Board of Trustees for entrusting me with the awesome responsibility of leading our department," Williams said. "I would also like to recognize the wonderful student-athletes, coaches, and staff who I am so fortunate to work with on a daily basis. To be able to reach a goal like this, it takes help and I could not have accomplished this without my husband Valdez and daughter Harper Lynne. Your love and support throughout this journey has been constant, and for that I thank both of you. ASU is a special place, and I look forward to building upon the winning tradition!"

The success continued off the field for the Hornets as student-athletes, coaches and staff embraced Williams' motto of 'committing to connect', with many serving actively in the community and presenting nationally in their respective areas.

At Alabama State, Williams serves on the President's executive leadership team and manages the day-to-day operations of Hornet Athletics. Williams has direct oversight of the Hornet Club, the official fundraising arm of ASU Athletics, and serves as the sport administrator for football, men's and women's basketball and baseball.

Earlier this summer, Williams was recognized for her work as she was named the FCS Administrator of the Year by Women Leaders in College Sports, and she will be officially recognized for that honor next week in Atlanta. She was named to the NAADD Executive Board earlier this year, and serves on the Division I Council. Williams also serves on the Football Oversight Committee.

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ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

MSU Basketball Programs Took Part In Tuesday's Greater Baltimore Basketball Media Day

BALTIMORE, Maryland  --  Morgan State University men's basketball head coach Todd Bozeman and women's basketball head coach Edward Davis Jr. took part in the second annual Greater Baltimore Basketball Media Day on Tuesday morning. MSU seniors Martez Cameron and Adre'onia Coleman were also on hand to represent the men's and women's programs.

The event was hosted by UMBC and held on campus at the new Events Center. 

All seven of the men's and women's NCAA Division I institutions located within an hour's drive of UMBC were in attendance, including: Coppin State, Loyola Maryland, Morgan State, Mount St. Mary's, Navy and Towson.

The Greater Baltimore Basketball Media Day program was held in "station"-style this year.

Coaches and student-athletes in attendance rotated through four stations – TV-press conference style;  Print/Radio; One-on-ones; and Facebook Live for (student-athletes only).

Morgan State's men's team begins the 2018-19 campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 6, when they travel to Villanova, Pa. to take on the NCAA reigning champions of Villanova at 7 p.m.

A year ago the Bears finished 13-19 overall and went 7-9 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). Morgan State's season would come to an end in the semifinals of the MEAC Tournament, following a 79-70 loss to 6th-seeded North Carolina Central.

The Lady Bears also open up the season on Tuesday, Nov. 6, when they host Lincoln (Pa.). Tip-off is at 6 p.m. at Hill Field House. 

Morgan State finished the 2017-18 campaign with a 16-15 overall record, 8-8 in the MEAC, which was tied for fourth. The Lady Bears, who had one of its most successful seasons in recent years, closed out the 2017-18 home slate with a 10-3 mark. It was Morgan State's best home record since the 2009-10 team finished 9-1 at Hill Field House. The team would fall to No. 3 Hampton, 66-57 in the quarterfinal round of the MEAC Tournament.

ABOUT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is celebrating its 150th year of excellence in higher education. A Carnegie-classified doctoral research institution, Morgan offers more than 100 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's preeminent Public Urban Research University, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu. 

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Washington, North Carolina A&T Aggies Brace For FAMU Rattlers

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

TSU Lady Tigers extend winning streak to five games

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Texas Southern Lady Tigers continued to impress running their winning streak to five games with a dominant 4-1 victory over the reigning SWAC Champion Alabama State Hornets.

The Lady Tigers offense would get off to fast start with four shots on goal in the first 12 minutes of the contest. Gia Hodges would open the scoring as she found the back of the net in the 31st minute to put the Lady Tigers up 1-0.

Begona Rodriguez-Bravo would add to the lead as she took a beautiful pass from Bailey Blalock to put the Lady Tigers up 2-0.

Alabama State's Birgit Rijinders would cut the lead in half to 2-1, as she would get behind the Lady Tiger's defense for the Hornets lone score. But the Hornets would get no closer as Rodriguez-Bravo would put home her team leading 4th goal of the season on a tremendous assist from Lemauriel Johnson.

Johnson herself would get in on the scoring fun as she also found the back of the net making it 4-1.

"I'm just really proud of the girls, they had a really tough week and they really came through this weekend," said TSU head coach Kathryn Balogun. " Collectively they put their teammates above everything and continued to make good decisions with the ball, so it was really a total team win. We're starting to score goals which is always a positive sign" Balogun.

TSU will now get set to embark on a four game road swing beginning with an Oct. 12 meeting versus Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

BOX SCORE

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TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Formilan receives her 2nd GCAC defensive award

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Beatrice Formilan has won her second Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Defender of the Week volleyball award this season.
     
Formilan, a freshman libero from Santorso, Italy, earned the honor for Oct. 1-7 after producing a match-high 13 digs in the Gold Nuggets' GCAC victory at Talladega. It was the 15th time this season that Formilan reached double-figure digs.
     
Formilan was flawless in 11 receptions of serve and produced four assists and an ace. She helped the Gold Nuggets set a school record for fewest points allowed in a third set — four. XULA won 25-10, 25-14, 25-4.
     
XULA (16-4, 7-0) will visit GCAC and city rival SUNO (2-11, 2-6) at 6 p.m. Wednesday at The Castle on SUNO's campus. It's a makeup of a Saturday match.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Ashmore is 2nd Rush freshman of 2018 to win GCAC honor

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Jordan Ashmore is the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Runner of the Week in men's cross country for Oct. 1-7.
     
Ashmore, from Cedar Hill, Texas, and a graduate of Cedar Hill High School, placed 42nd out of 74 runners Saturday in the Watson Ford Invitational at Clinton, Miss. His time for 8,000 meters was 29 minutes, 51.86 seconds. He finished ahead of seven runners from NCAA Division I and led the Gold Rush to ninth place in team scoring.
     
This is the first time that two Gold Rush freshmen won Runner of the Week awards in the same season. Francis Patterson was honored for Sept. 10-16.
     
XULA will return to Clinton and Choctaw Trails Course for the Mississippi College Invitational Saturday. The men's 8K will start at 8 a.m., followed by the women's 5K at 9. It will be XULA's fourth meet of the season.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Air Force Reserve Renews Its Title Sponsorship of the Celebration Bowl

ATLANTA, Georgia -- The Celebration Bowl announced today that the Air Force Reserve has renewed its title sponsorship of the game. Operated by ESPN Events, the fourth annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is a championship-style game between the division champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).  The game will once again be televised on ABC at noon ET on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

“We are thrilled to have the Air Force Reserve join us again as the title sponsor of the Celebration Bowl,” said John Grant, Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl executive director. “The theme of this year’s Celebration Bowl is all about the celebration of service. Partnering with the Air Force Reserve allows us to truly honor and commemorate those who volunteer and serve to protect both for the community and the country.”

The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl features tradition, legacy and values of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and has established itself as the very first bowl game of the season.  Entering its fourth year, the game will once again open the college football bowl season

“We are excited to be the title sponsor of the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl,” said CMSgt Michael Johnson, AFRCRS.  “This year’s bowl game celebrating service lines up perfectly with what the Air Force Reserve does every day serving our nation at home and abroad as part of this nation’s national defense. We are looking forward to telling the great story of the Air Force Reserve, its mission and the benefits of serving to a national audience.”

Fans can purchase tickets to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl online at thecelebrationbowl.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Prices range from $15 to $155 excluding taxes and fees.  A full list of events surrounding the game are available on the event’s website.

The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. For more information, visit www.TheCelebrationBowl.com, and follow the event on Twitter and Facebook.

Air Force Reserve

There are many exciting part-time Air Force Reserve jobs which allow Reserve Citizen Airmen to advance their civilian careers or continue their educations while serving close to home. College Tuition Assistance and signing bonuses up to $20,000 are available for specific jobs. Go to AFReserve.com or call 800-257-1212 for more information on how you can Start Your Adventure with the Air Force Reserve.

ESPN EventsESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of 31 collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 14 college bowl games, 10 college basketball events, a college softball event and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 375-plus hours of live programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 800,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.

Collegiate Football
Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl (Houston); AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl (Tampa, Fla.); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); Camping World Kickoff(Orlando, Fla.); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); DXL Frisco Bowl (Texas); Guardian Credit Union FCS Kickoff (Montgomery, Ala.); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl (Nassau);  MEAC/SWAC Challenge(Atlanta); Mitsubishi Motors Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada);   New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); SERVPRO First Responder Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth);  The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta).

PVAMU Volleyball Can't Get Things Going Against Arkansas Pine Bluff

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas  –  Despite a promising first set that went the way of Arkansas Pine Bluff by a pair of points, the Prairie View A&M volleyball team was not able to find their offense, as the Golden Lions took the three game-set match 3-0.

"We had another game where offense didn't show up like they should have," said head PVAMU volleyball coach TaCho Tyler. "We are blocking, digging the ball as well as putting the ball where it needs to be for our hitters, but we aren't getting it down. We will have some time to work on some things and revisiting our hitting before we head out to Alabama next week."

The opening frame began with some good back-and-forth action as both teams were squared at 10 early. UAPB was able to build a five-point lead at 15-10, but PVAMU remained scrappy as the set was knotted at 24. The Golden Lions took the final two points for a 26-24 first set victory.

The second set opened just like the first with both teams tied up early at seven. UAPB were able to keep the Lady Panthers grounded through the remainder of the set as the Lady Golden Lions used a 7-5 run to secure the second set at 25-17.

BOX SCORE

UAPB took the match with a 25-22 victory in the final set.

Junior Jaylan Thomas paced the Prairie View A&M offense, as she tallied 12 kills. Cetara Carter tallied eight kills, while Victoria Pearson added six. Junior Erica Jimenez dished out a team-high 14 assists, while posting 12 digs. Thomas and Tamira Armstrong had 14 digs apiece to lead the Lady Panthers.

The Lady Panthers will continue their road play next weekend, Oct. 19-21 as they take on Alabama A&M, at 12:30 p.m., and Mississippi Valley State at 3 p.m. on Friday in the East SWAC Round up in Huntsville, Ala.

PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Kemei breaks the finish line tape at Mississippi College

CLINTON, Mississippi –  Mississippi Valley State University runner Scolasticah Kemei broke the tape at the finish line Saturday to lead the Devilettes at the Mississippi College Watson Ford Invitational.

Kemei crossed the finish line with a time of 21 minutes, 48.2 seconds, more than a full minute ahead of the second-place finisher. The win was also her second consecutive individual race victory, as she also won the college women's event at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Cross Country Festival on Sept. 15.

The victory by Kemei helped the Devilettes to a fifth-place team finish out of 10 teams competing at Saturday's event. Mississippi Valley State also finished third among the six NCAA Division I teams competing.

Alice Kimutai was MVSU's other Top 20 finisher, as she finished 20th with a time of 25:29.10. The next Devilette over the finish line was Derica Pitters, who finished 33rd (30th qualifier) with a time of 27:03.7.

Mya Dumpson (28:35.1, 41st qualifier) and Iyanna Alexander (28:41.00, 42nd qualifier) rounded out the Devilettes' score. The pair finished 47th and 48th overall.

The Devilettes will be back in Clinton on Saturday, Oct. 13, for the Mississippi College Open.

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

Alabama State sweeps Jackson State, 3-0

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- The Alabama State volleyball team entered Monday night's match against Jackson State in their usual position near the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference standings with a 6-2 league record, however, the Lady Hornets were looking for a spark.

Amber Bolden, Nastazia Heholt and Kaitlynn Stoker provided the Lady Hornets with the jolt they were looking for, and Alabama State (10-15, 7-2) cruised to a dominating sweep of the Lady Tigers (25-19, 25-15, 25-20).

While the stats for the trio were not extraordinary, the insertion of the three into action resulted in a style more in line with what head coach Penny Lucas-White expects.

"Those three have been working really hard and have been outperforming the ones on the court and at this point in our season we have to make some changes because what we are doing isn't really working," head coach Penny Lucas-White said. "For Kaitlynn to come in and pass, hit and block that's what we've been needing -- some consistency on the pin. Then Amber with her passing and serving and Nastazia did a great job of setting and running the offense. The kids really work hard and raise their level of play when she is in the game."

BOX SCORE

Bolden – grabbing her first start of 2018 – tallied four digs and two service aces, igniting multiple Alabama State runs. Heholt, seeing action for the first time since an August 31st match against Wofford,, posted a season-high six assists and five digs while Stoker was an asset on both sides of the net, putting away four kills (.333) while digging out two Jackson State (7-16, 5-3) attacks in addition to accounting for two blocks.

Alabama State outhit Jackson State (.226 - .029) and controlled the net defensively, racking up 14 blocks compared to the Lady Tigers' five. Candace Martin was once again a force in all aspects, putting away seven of her 13 attacks (.538) and added to her league-leading block total with seven. Junior Payten Clark teamed with Martin to provide a dynamic duo at the net, leading all Alabama State players with seven blocks. Krysta Medearis led all hitters with nine kills and senior Kori Kutsch was steady with 22 assists and two service aces.

"We definitely need to make some changes if we want to put in a good race for this championship. We need kids to stick to the game plan in order to beat our opponents," Lucas-White said.

The Lady Hornets step out of conference Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa with a match against Alabama at 7 pm.

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ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY HORNETS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

North Carolina A&T State Aggies Move Back Into The Top-10

EAST GREENSBORO, North Carolina – North Carolina A&T football sustained an upset loss to Morgan State two week ago. The Aggies, however, seem to be recovering nicely.

The Aggies returned to the top-10 in both national Division I-Football Championship Subdivision polls. The AFCA Coaches poll has the Aggies ranked No. 10. The FCS STATS media poll also has the Aggies at No. 10. Meanwhile, the BoxToRow Black College Football poll put the Aggies back at No. 1 in its poll this week.

N.C. A&T opened the season with wins over perennial top-10 FCS program Jacksonville State. They followed that victory with a win over Division I-FBS program East Carolina, a team from the very respectable American Athletic Conference. The win over the ECU Pirates marked the third straight year the Aggies defeated an FBS program.

The Aggies ascended to No. 6 in the media poll and No. 7 in the coaches poll have those two historic wins for the program. The next week the Aggies followed up with a 45-6 win over Gardner-Webb. The win moved the Aggies to No. 4 in the media poll, the highest they have ever been in program history.

Then the loss to Morgan State happened and the Aggies dropped all the way out of the top-10 in both polls and saw their nearly 400-day grip on the No. 1 spot in black college football disappear.

It will not be easy staying in the top-10 nationally and No. 1 in black college football, however. The Aggies (5-1, 2-0 MEAC) face Florida A&M (4-2, 3-0 MEAC) for first place in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 13 at BB&T Stadium.

NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Valley stuns Alcorn State in five-set thriller

ITTA BENA, Mississippi – The Devilettes of Mississippi Valley State University claimed their first win in Southwestern Athletic Conference play Monday in exciting fashion.

Trailing two sets to none against Alcorn State, the Devilettes fought back to take a five-set victory from the Lady Braves in front of their largest crowd of the season on Dig Pink Night.

Scores of the match were 14-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-19, and 15-13.

Taylor Selfridge and Destini Banks knocked down 11 kills apiece for the Devilettes (3-19), who improved to 1-7 in SWAC play; Banks had six of her kills in set four alone.

Selfridge combined her 11 kills with 22 digs for her third double-double of the season. She was also in on three blocks in the match, while Banks took part in six blocks. Appropriately enough, it was also Selfridge and Banks who had the match-ending point when they blocked an attack from Alondra Rivera Modesto.

The win was Valley's first five-set triumph in three tries against SWAC competition and gives the team a much-needed boost of confidence as they prepare for their next match at Jackson State on Thursday.

BOX SCORE

Tyler Caliste knocked down nine kills for the Devilettes, while Chardea Berthelot put away eight kills. Ariana Austin tallied 29 assists from the setter position, and teammate Brooklyn Hudson handed out 11 assists.

Valley's defensive effort was led by Jessica Bell's 26 digs. Kalin Barnes tallied 15 digs during the match, while Kiya Garza recorded 10 digs.

Daharri Thompkins and Mae Lewis each had 11 kills to lead Alcorn State (5-13, 3-6 SWAC).

The Devilettes and their fans began to sense a comeback in set four. Though they fell behind 11-6 in the set, Valley ran off five consecutive points to tie the match, with Barnes serving two of her three aces in the match during the run.

It was another unanswered run of points that put Valley in the driver's seat at set four reached its conclusion. With the score tied at 15, the Devilettes reeled of six points in a row, with Banks tallying three kills during the run.

Set five was a back-and-forth endeavor in which neither team managed to build a significant lead. Valley enjoyed the largest lead in the final set when they led 9-6. Selfridge and Caliste put away two kills apiece in set five.

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Gold Nuggets defeat Dillard for 20th consecutive time

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana, hitting better than .400 for the fourth time in five matches, scored a 25-16, 25-11, 25-21 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference volleyball victory Monday against Dillard at Dillard's Dent Hall.
     
It was the Gold Nuggets' 20th consecutive victory against their longtime city rival and second in 2018. XULA (16-4, 7-0) has won 10 straight overall this season.
     
Dillard (10-14, 5-4) dropped its third straight, all at home.
     
XULA outhit Dillard .403 to .103. Freshman Marine Angely produced a career high for hitting for the second straight match. She hit .632 in 19 attacks and had 13 kills, her second most this season.
     
"It's great to see Marine play the way she has lately," said teammate Kayla Black. "She's gotten a better understanding of what she needs to do to earn a spot on the floor, and she's stepped up and fought for it."
     
Black had 10 kills — her 15th time this season in double figures — and hit .474 in 19 attacks. The sophomore also reached 500 career kills; she has 501 and ranks seventh in XULA history.
     
Freshman Elena Duru had six kills and hit .400, and sophomore Vivica Price-Spragginshad five kills and hit .333. Price-Spraggins had four blocks, Angely and Duru served two aces apiece, and another freshman, Beatrice Formilan, had eight digs. Eva Le Guillou had 33 assists, two kills, two blocks and six digs.
     
Dillard's Desire Neal, who had 20 kills and hit .400 in a four-set loss Sept. 15 at XULA, had eight kills and hit .105.
     
Dillard led 5-1 and 8-3 in the opening set, but XULA answered with a 10-2 run and took the lead for good at 11-10 on a Le Guillou ace.
     
"Dillard came out with a lot of energy," Black said. "but we responded to that and did a good job throughout the match."
     
It's the fifth time in program history that the Gold Nuggets have won 10 straight or more. They won 13 in a row in 2017. The school record, set in 2013, is 20 consecutive victories.
     
XULA remained a half-match behind Tougaloo in the GCAC standings. Both teams are unbeaten in the league, but Tougaloo is 8-0 after its three-set victory Monday at SUNO.
     
Next for XULA will be a 6 p.m. Wednesday GCAC match at SUNO.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
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HBCU Play, Episode 10

ATLANTA, Georgia -- Episode 10 -- The commissioner of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Jacqie McWilliams joins Lericia Harris and Sam Crenshaw to discuss the potential move of the CIAA men's/women's basketball tournament out of Charlotte and being the first African-American female ever to hold her current position.

Edward Waters' Jones, Montgomery Receive Conference Honors

COLUMBIA, Kentucky -- The Mid-South Conference announced their Sun Division Players of the Week for the week of October 8th on Monday afternoon. Freshman QB Derrick Jones received MSC Sun Division Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time this season, while Junior RB/KR Richard Montgomery earned his first career nod earning MSC Sun Division Special Teams Player of the Week following their performances in the Tigers' 33-30 road overtime division win over Warner.

Jones accounted for four touchdowns and nearly 350 yards of total offense on Saturday afternoon, putting up 229 yards on 12-of-22 passing with one passing TD. He also added 119 yards on the ground and three rushing touchdowns, including the game-winning one-yard rushing in overtime. Through the Tigers first six games, Jones ranks third in the Mid-South Conference in total offense, accumulating 226.7 yards per game.

Montgomery earned his first career conference honor by racking up a career high 147 all-purpose yards, including a 94-yard kick return touchdown in the first quarter of Saturday's game. He currently ranks second in the conference in kick return average, with 30.6 yards per game.

This is the second time that Edward Waters has earned Sun Division Player of the Week honors as Jones and Freshman LB Elijah Spivey received Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors for the week of September 10th, following the road victory over Cumberland.

Follow the Tigers
For complete coverage of Edward Waters College Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @EWCAthletics (Twitter), /EWCSports (Facebook) and @EWCAthletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Edward Waters athletics at EWCTigerPride.com.

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Edward Waters Football Wins Road Thriller in Overtime Over Warner

LAKELAND, Florida -- In a "must-win" game to keep pace in the Mid-South Conference Sun Division standings, Edward Waters (3-3, 1-1 MSC Sun) starting quarterback Derrick Jones scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper for the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the Royals of Warner University (0-5, 0-1 MSC Sun), 33-30 in a thriller at Viking Stadium on the campus of Lakeland Christian School.

Warner opened the scoring in the first quarter, taking the opening drive down the field and settled for a Justin Dalton 29-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Richard Montgomery went 95 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown to give EWC their first lead of the day at 7-3 with 8:36 remaining in the quarter.



The Royals took the lead back with one minute left in the quarter off the strength of an 87-yard pass from starting QB Andre Tommie to WR Jeffery Suarez to lead 10-7.

Edward Waters came back with a 58 yard touchdown pass from Jones to David Beeks. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Beeks forced EWC to kick a long extra point which was blocked and the Tigers led 13-10.

WU ended the first half with an 11 point fade route to WR Theodore Hammonds with :12 left to take a 17-13 lead going into the locker room.

The Tigers opened the second half scoring with the first of three touchdown runs by Derrick Jones with 9:09 left in the third quarter to retake the lead at 20-17 lead.

Warner would not go away as Ralph Hughey scored on a 21-yard touchdown run to take a 24-20 lead with 5:28 remaining in the third.

Justin Dalton connected on his second field goal, this time from 27 yards out to extend their advantage to 27-20.

Going into the fourth quarter of this seesaw contest, with 4:15 remaining in regulation, Derrick Jones scored on a six yard TD run to tie the contest at 27-27.

Neither team could score in regulation and thus, the contest went to overtime. Edward Waters won the toss and elected to go on defense to start the extra session.

Justin Dalton connected on another field goal to take a 30-27 lead in OT, forcing Edward Waters to either score a field goal to tie, or a touchdown to win.

On first down, Jones scampered 24 yards to the Royals' one-yard line to set up 1st and Goal from the one. Jones did the honors on the next snap, to give EWC one of their most memorable victories in recent history and close out their four-game road trip, going 3-1.

Jones finished the day going 12-22 passing, for 229 yards and one touchdown. The former Lee General also added 18 carries for 116 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Corey Hammett also had another solid day in the backfield for Edward Waters, with 18 carries for 89 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry for the freshman from Miami Northwestern.

David Beeks led the Tigers in receiving with four catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kennard Mahone led Edward Waters with eight total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery. Christian Hayes also chipped in with six total tackles and several pass breakups.

Edward Waters will finally return home to Jacksonville next Saturday, October 13th where they will host Faulkner in another Mid-South Conference Sun Division matchup. Kickoff is set for 4:00pm at the University Christian School Football Complex. It is the "Breast Cancer Awareness" game and all fans are encouraged to wear pink in their support of the fight against Breast Cancer.

Follow the Tigers
For complete coverage of Edward Waters College Athletics, follow the Tigers on social media @EWCAthletics (Twitter), /EWCSports (Facebook) and @EWCAthletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Edward Waters athletics at EWCTigerPride.com.

EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE ATHLETICS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

Southern Volleyball Defeats Grambling State 3-0

GRAMBLING, Louisiana -- The Southern University Jaguars Volleyball team made short work of their rival, Grambling State University Lady Tigers Sunday at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center, spoiling their home opener 3-0.

Southern (4-13 overall, 3-5 SWAC) swept the match with scores of 25-14, 25-22, 25-12.

The Jaguars ended their road four-game road swing with two straight victories.

Coach Jacobs says that the team played “very well as a whole.’” She also stated, “When the game got tight, we didn’t lose poise. This is how we needed to be playing all along.” Coach Jacobs was rather impressed by the team’s overall performance.

Senior Paige Hall recorded eight kills and eight blocks. Junior Shelby Jolly had nine kills and three blocks. The standout of tonight’s game was freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist, Jada Carter who rounded tonight with nine kills and eight digs. Carter recorded a hitting percentage of .533%.

The Jaguars will be back in action at home on Tuesday, October 9, as they will host the Lady Privateers of the University of New Orleans.

By Taylor Jean-Lewis/Southern Student
SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY JAGUARS SPORTS INFORMATION

Alabama A&M Football Review with " Coach Connell Maynor"

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