XU's Kirk, Reuther experience the kills of victory

NEW ORLEANS -- Moira Kirk and Taylor Reuther produced 12 kills apiece Friday to help Xavier University of Louisiana's women's volleyball team defeat Tougaloo 25-17, 25-9, 25-11 and remain perfect in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

The Gold Nuggets (13-4, 7-0) earned their second victory of the day at Dillard's Dent Hall and maintained their one-match lead in the GCAC over SUNO.

"After a loss last night (against Prairie View A&M) we set our goals to correct our mistakes," Xavier coach Christabell Hamilton said. "Today was a new day and a fresh attitude. And it's totally different when we play in conference."

It was the second time this season that Kirk and Reuther, both freshmen, reached 12 kills in the same match. Reuther had eight first-set kills and started a pair of 5-0 runs with kills. The three-time GCAC Player of the Week hit 400 in 25 attempts and had seven digs and three aces. Kirk hit .381 in 21 attempts -- she ended the second set with a kill -- and added four digs and two blocks.

Jeanay Butler had a season-high-tying four aces for Xavier for the second straight match, and Kerris Crier had her first four of the season -- all in a row to give the Nuggets a 21-9 lead in the third. Xavier served 15 aces and finished the day with 33.

Tougaloo's only lead of the 51-minute contest came when Dayane Souza opened the third set with her team's lone ace. The Nuggets responded with a 10-1 run which included two aces and a kill by Butler and two kills by Kirk.

Xavier hit .267 and got a team-high 12 digs -- eight in the first set -- from Chinedu Echebelem. Celeste Poe had seven digs and Joyy Joseph five.

"Our goal was to go 3-0 this weekend -- so far so good," Hamilton said. "It was a very good momentum shift compared to last night. Hopefully we'll finish strongly on Saturday."

Xavier will play Edward Waters at 10 a.m. Saturday at Dent Hall. The Nuggets defeated the Lady Tigers 25-12, 25-12, 25-10 on Sept.23.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS

Alabama State improves to 5-1 with 43-29 win over Texas Southern

HOUSTON, Texas -- A 21-point third-quarter keyed by special teams propelled Alabama State to a 43-29 win over Texas Southern in a wild Southwestern Athletic Conference shootout at Delmar Stadium in a rematch of last season's SWAC Championship Game. [Stats]

The Hornets (5-1 overall, 5-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) are off to their best start since the 2005 season and scored 30+ points for the fourth time this season, all victories.

"It's a huge win for us," head coach Reggie Barlow said. "There's so much parity in this league and we have other teams on the East that are winning and having success. It's going to come down to the wire. A team that has no losses or one loss is the team that has the best chance to go to the SWAC Championship."



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NCCU football coach Henry Frazier previews S.C. State game

G. Alan Inc. previews the 19th matchup between the Eagles of North Carolina Central University and the Bulldogs of South Carolina State University. NCCU enters the contest fresh after an off-week while the Bulldogs were upset last week in the Fish Bowl Classic against Norfolk State. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m., but tune in to Eagle Gameday built by Dayeco Construction Company beginning at 1:00 p.m. as play-by-play voice of the NCCU Sports Network Chris Hooks and Joe Simmons get fans revved up for NCCU Football.

SSU looks to get back on winning track

Savannah, Georgia -- Savannah State coach Steve Davenport doesn’t want to look backward — a direction his team was headed all too often a week ago.

But that was last week. Davenport and the Tigers are now looking ahead to building a new winning streak when they travel to Baltimore to meet Morgan State today at 1 p.m. at Hughes Stadium in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference showdown.

“You can’t live your life looking backward,” Davenport said. “There’s nothing we can do about the loss to Howard now. We just have to focus on Morgan State and handle our business with Morgan.”

SSU (1-4, 1-1 MEAC) played poorly at an inopportune time against Howard a week ago. The Tigers were playing their first game on campus in nearly two years while re-opening their renovated T.A. Wright Stadium. It was also their first home MEAC game.

Savannah State (1-4, 1-1 MEAC) at Morgan State (2-3, 1-1 MEAC)
When: Today, 1 p.m.
Where: Hughes Stadium, Baltimore, Md.
TV/radio: No TV/WHCJ 90.3 FM



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Mitchell, Southern Jaguars seek back-to-back victories

Baton Rouge, Louisiana - For the fourth time in Stump Mitchell's tenure at Southern, the Jaguars have a chance to do something they have yet to do under the second-year coach: win back-to-back football games. So far, the Jaguars have tried and failed on three different occasions.

SU (2-3, 2-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) gets its next opportunity hosting Prairie View (3-2, 3-1) Saturday at 6 p.m. inside A.W. Mumford Stadium in Baton Rouge.

"There's a lot of things we haven't done. One being we haven't won two games in a row since I've been here," Mitchell said Monday, speaking to reporters on the SWAC's weekly coaches teleconference. "We can do that by winning this week."



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Alabama A&M football: Milton wants to make up for snafu

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - G'Alonzo Milton spent the offseason working on his speed. Good thing, too.

Eleven months ago, Milton, a starting wide receiver for Alabama A&M, endured the most embarrassing moment of his football career when he was chased down from behind against Mississippi Valley State.

Last November, with A&M inside its 10-yard line, Milton hauled in a pass from quarterback Justin Jones and was headed toward the end zone for what appeared to be an easy touchdown. Unfortunately, Michael Boykins chased him down 92 yards later and tackled him at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, Tony Green fumbled giving the ball back to the Delta Devils.

A&M went on to win the game 21-7, but Milton hasn't been able to shake that embarrassing moment.



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Tuskegee and Morehouse set for 76th Classic

COLUMBUS, GA - Two sets of Tigers are ready to hit the field this weekend, with bragging rights at stake. The Tuskegee Golden Tigers and Morehouse Maroon Tigers are ready to renew their rivalry at the 76th Tuskegee-Morehouse Classic at McClung Memorial Stadium.

Tuskegee (1-3, 1-1 SIAC) has struggled this season, a young team with several freshmen and sophomores seeing significant playing time. Morehouse (4-1, 2-0 SIAC) on the other hand is a veteran squad that has been racking up the wins.

The one place they haven't racked up the wins is against their arch-rival. Tuskegee is carrying a seven-game winning streak into Saturday's game, with 13 wins in the last 15 meetings between the two teams.

Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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