XU's Didavi, Taylor grab third place in NAIA doubles

MOBILE, Alabama -- Xavier University of Louisiana's second-seeded Loic Didavi and Zach Taylor defeated Oklahoma Christian's fourth-seeded Bruno Tiberti and Martin Poboril 6-7 (4), 7-5, 1-0 (10-7) Friday in the NAIA men's doubles third-place match of the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships.

 Loic Didavi 

Zach Taylor

Didavi, unseeded in singles, upset fourth-seeded Vladislav Khudziy of Huntington (Ind.) 6-4, 6-3 in the consolation semifinals.

Didavi and Taylor lost 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals to Fresno Pacific's third-seeded Cledson Carvalho and Nathan Martinet.

XU's doubles tandem finished the fall semester 7-2. Taylor is 22-10 at Xavier in two seasons of doubles.

"That third-place match started right after both teams lost in the semifinals," Xavier coach Alan Green said. "Both teams were given a 40-minute break, but they decided to stay on court and play. Oklahoma Christian was coming off a tough loss in a super-tiebreaker.

"At first it looked like all four guys did not want to be on the court, but they eventually warmed up to it. It was a back-and-forth match. Loic and Zach did a great job taking control in the second set, then they got a good lead early in the super-tiebreaker and held on."

Didavi, 9-1 in singles this season, broke Khudziy's serve to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.

"Loic's first set of singles was ugly," Green said. "He almost lost serve a couple of times but pulled it out.

"Loic's opponent was really good but deceptive. It was a mental challenge for Loic because his opponent looked like he was coasting at times, and at other times he'd produce great shots. It was hard for Loic to get into a rhythm, but he did what he had to do to win."

Didavi will play Graceland's Laurentsi Arakhamiya at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for fifth place.

Graceland's first-year coach is Xavier graduate Monroe Walker, who played for the Gold Rush from 2001-05.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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SSU tries to rebound at home against FAMU

Savannah, Georgia -- After having five of his first six games on the road, Savannah State football coach Steve Davenport is looking forward to being close to home the rest of the season. Four of the Tigers’ last five games are in SSU’s T.A. Wright Stadium, beginning tonight at 7 against Florida A&M. State’s lone road game during the season-ending stretch is Nov. 12 in Daytona Beach against Bethune-Cookman.

“We spent 12½-13 hours on the bus going to and coming back from Morgan State last week, so we’re looking forward to getting some normalcy around here,” Davenport said.



The Tigers (1-5, 1-2 MEAC) may be at home, but they’ll be playing probably the most difficult part of their conference schedule. Three of SSU’s remaining five opponents — FAMU, Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State — shared the league title last season.

Norfolk State is 5-1 (the only loss at West Virginia) and atop the MEAC with a 3-0 league record this season.

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Morehouse heads to Albany State with title in sights

Albany, Georgia -- The victory against Tuskegee last weekend didn’t secure a championship or set any kind of milestone for Morehouse. Instead, the traditional water-cooler dousing that Morehouse players gave coach Rich Freeman after their 17-14 victory symbolized washing away what Freeman had called the “curse” of Tuskegee.

The Maroon Tigers ended a seven-game losing streak to Tuskegee. Now Morehouse can stay on track for its second SIAC title since 1923 with a victory at Albany State on Saturday.

The Golden Rams won the 2010 SIAC championship after a come-from-behind victory over Morehouse. Albany State or Tuskegee has won every SIAC title since 2000, but Morehouse has a chance to break through.

The Maroon Tigers (5-1, 3-0) are assured of a spot in the SIAC championship game at Lakewood Stadium if they beat East division-rival Albany State (4-2, 2-1) and then win their final three games.



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ECSU Vikings finally coming home

Elizabeth City, North Carolina -- Elizabeth City State’s football team will not only be celebrating the school’s annual homecoming today, it be celebrating an actual homecoming — its own. When the Vikings kick off against Virginia State today, it will be their first game on campus since Sept. 3, a span of six weeks.

“When I looked at the schedule, I felt we had a long stretch there, but it’s just dawned on me how long it’s really been,” ECSU coach Waverly Tillar said. “It’s good to be home. As a matter of fact, I finally unpacked my bag the other night.

“It will be good to be back at home and give some of the people that haven’t had a chance, a chance to see us.”

There is little time for Tillar and the Vikings (4-2, 2-1) to enjoy the comforts of home, though. A victory over the Trojans will push them one step closer to a third division title in six years, a spot in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship game on Nov. 12 and a chance at a title that has eluded them.



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Bluefield State tabs Jackson as interim head coach

Coach Jamaal Jackson

BLUEFIELD, West Virginia — A college basketball season has often been called a marathon, not a sprint. Not for Jamaal Jackson. "I’ve got to hit the ground sprinting, not even running,” Jackson said. “Just sprinting.”

No wonder. Jackson arrived at Bluefield State from Alabama on Thursday afternoon, having been selected to become the interim men’s basketball coach for the Big Blues. Practice begins on Saturday, less than 48 hours after meeting with a few members of his new team.

Jackson, who will replace Jimmy Voight — who was fired after one season at Bluefield State — will take over a struggling program with little time to even get to know his personnel. He may not even a permanent place to live by the time preparations can officially begin for the 2011-12 season on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Alabama A&M University Marching Maroon and White

Alabama A&M University performance on ESPNU vs. Texas Southern, Oct. 13, 2011

Hampton, Norfolk State to renew 'Battle of the Bay'

Norfolk, Virginia – Hampton football coach Don Rose is headed to his native Norfolk on Saturday, but he laughs nobody will be giving him a homecoming. He knows Norfolk State is not in the giving mood this season. The Spartans have surrendered the ball only three times this season, which is tied for the fewest turnovers in the FCS.

Not surprisingly, Norfolk State is off to a 5-1 start and sits atop the MEAC with a 3-0 conference record. That factor adds to the Spartans' 49th meeting with neighboring Hampton in the "Battle of the Bay" at Dick Price Stadium.




Hampton (3-2, 1-1) risks falling out of the MEAC title race if it doesn't pull an upset. The meeting features an excellent showdown of two of the conference's top quarterbacks, Hampton's David Legree and Norfolk State's Chris Walley. Each signal-caller went over 300 passing yards last weekend to set a career high.

"The conference standings, that's fine. And the rivalry, that's fine," Rose said. "You know it comes down to you've got two teams and there's only one that's going to come out victorous. The team that executes the best (in) the six inches between the ears will take care of that battle."



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