Success by North Carolina A&T Aggies turning heads

Tallahassee, Florida -- When North Carolina A&T won three straight MEAC games to start conference play, it raised more than a few eyebrows — especially since one of the wins came over defending champion Bethune-Cookman.

The Aggies have since lost two straight, but remain one of seven teams in the hunt for the conference title. That in itself could be considered a major achievement for a team that had just one victory last season.

First-year coach Rod Broadway stopped short of calling it a turnaround earlier this week, but said he's seen plenty of signs that N.C. A&T (4-4, 3-2) is on the right path. And it's happening with only 30 scholarship players.

"We got some kids who want to do well," Broadway said. "They want to be successful (and) we've got to teach them how to win and now how to finish."



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Game Day: Winston Salem State Rams vs. UNCP Braves

GAME DAY INFORMATION
WHEN: Saturday, November 5 - 2 p.m. ET
WHERE: Pembroke, N.C.
FACILITY: Grace P. Johnson Stadium
TICKETS: Single game reserved bench tickets are $15. If available, reserved bench ticket will be sold on game day at the ticket tent. Standing-Room Only tickets ($10) will be available on game day at the ticket tent. Lawn chairs are permitted inside Grace P. Johnson Stadium.
BROADCAST COVERAGE:

LIVE STATISTICS: Follow the game action FREE live via a live stats link provided by the UNCP athletic department. CLICK HERE

LIVE AUDIO/VIDEO: Follow the game action via FREE live audio/video streaming through a link provided by the UNCP athletic department. CLICK HERE

THE TEAMS

UNCP (7-2): Roster l Schedule/Results l Statistics
WINSTON-SALEM STATE (9-0): Roster l Schedule/Results l Statistics
THE COACHES: Winston-Salem State head coach Connell Maynor is 17-2 (.895) in his second season at the helm of the Rams. UNCP head coach Pete Shinnick is 34-17 (.667) in his fifth season with the Braves.
THE SERIES: Winston-Salem State leads the all-time series, 1-0, after last season's 21-7 victory over the Braves in Winston-Salem.
LAST TIME OUT: Winston-Salem State used an interception midway through the fourth quarter to preserve a 21-14 home victory over Shaw. UNCP racked up more than 300 yards of offense in building a 20-7 halftime lead en route to posting a 23-20 win at Newberry.

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UNC Pembroke highly motivated to beat WSSU

Pembroke, North Carolina -- Coach Connell Maynor said he expects Winston-Salem State's game at UNC Pembroke today to have the atmosphere of the playoffs, because that's the goal for both teams. "They've won their last four games, and they are trying to get in the playoffs so if they can knock us off, a team that's ranked No. 2 in the region and seventh in the country, they can get into the playoffs," WSSU's Maynor said.

The Rams are 9-0. The Braves are 7-2. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at UNCP's Grace P. Johnson Stadium. With a win today, the Rams can complete just the third undefeated regular season in program history, but more important is that a victory would keep them in good shape for the Division II playoffs.

UNCP, a fifth-year program, has one of the top offenses in Division II under coach Pete Shinnick and is averaging 511 yards (fourth in Division II). Sophomore quarterback Luke Charles has passed for 2,653 yards and 22 touchdowns, and Travis Daniels has rushed for 1,342 yards and 14 TDs.

The Rams' defense has been stellar all season but has been overshadowed by an offense averaging 45 points a game. Against UNCP, the defense will have to rise to the challenge. WSSU's next game after today will be the CIAA championship Nov. 12 in Durham, but Maynor said he doesn't expect his players to be looking ahead.

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GW Men's Hoops Welcomes D-II #8 Bowie State for Exhibition

WHO: GW Men's Basketball and New Head Coach Mike Lonergan
WHAT: Exhibition Game vs. Bowie State
WHERE: Charles E. Smith Center, 600 22nd Street NW
WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m.
HOW: Buy Tickets
VIDEO: GW All-Access
AUDIO: FederalNewsRadio.com, 1500 AM (Byron Kerr, Yegor Mescheriakov)
STATS: GameTracker
PROMOTION: Colonial Army Distribution Night - First 500 members will receive Colonials Basketball pinnie

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The much anticipated debut of the 2011-12 George Washington men's basketball team and new head coach Mike Lonergan happens this Sunday when the Colonials host NCAA Division II nationally ranked Bowie State to Charles E. Smith Center for a preseason exhibition at 6 p.m.

Preseason First Team All-Atlantic 10 selection Tony Taylor and fellow captains Jabari Edwards and Aaron Ware will lead the Colonials as they tip-off the 2011-12 campaign on the court while new head coach Mike Lonergan ushers in a new era of GW Basketball from the sideline.

Lonergan, a Bowie, Md., native, will walk the Smith Center sidelines for the first time after returning to his roots following six seasons as head coach at Vermont. Entering his 19th season as a head coach, Lonergan owns an overall record of 377-156, with 15 winning seasons and 13 NCAA Tournament victories, including a NCAA Division III National Championship at his alma mater Catholic University in 2001.

While Lonergan and his coaching staff are new, Colonials' backers will recognize a slew of returning talent for GW when the team takes the floor on Sunday evening, as four starters and 10 letterwinners return to a team that won 17 games and tied for fourth in the Atlantic 10 Conference last season.

Bowie State, meanwhile, will prove to be a worthy exhibition foe for the Colonials as it makes the short trip to Foggy Bottom ranked eighth in the NCAA Division II preseason national poll. The Bulldogs reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) North Division crown with an 11-1 mark, while finishing a CIAA best 16-2 in the conference and 23-6 overall.

Head coach Darrell Brooks, a former GW assistant, has four returning seniors on his squad, headlined by 7-foot center Travis Hyman, who caught the eye of NBA scouts with a CIAA-high 104 blocks last season. Hyman also checked in with 15.2 points per outing and claimed CIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2010-11.

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ECSU football still has business to settle

Elizabeth City, North Carolina -- Elizabeth City State’s immediate future has been set for a few weeks now. But there is one more piece of business the Vikings have to take care of before next week’s Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association football championship game.

ECSU closes out the regular season with a Senior Day home game against Lincoln today. The Vikings, who clinched their spot in the CIAA title game opposite Winston-Salem State two weeks ago, are approaching today’s game the same way they have the first nine games of the season.

“Our concentration is on Lincoln as we always try to take it one game at a time,” ECSU coach Waverly Tillar said.

While the game might be meaningless in the CIAA standings, ECSU has a bigger picture to look at. The Vikings are clinging to the fifth spot in the NCAA Division II Super Region One poll, which would put them into the playoff field if the season ended today. But the season does not end today.

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ECSU PREPARES TO SALUTE 20 FOOTBALL SENIORS SATURDAY

ELIZABETH CITY, NC - The Elizabeth City State University football team will host Senior Day on Saturday, November 5th prior to the start of the Vikings' season finale with Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

ECSU pause pregame to salute 20 student-athletes who will be playing at their final regular season home game at Roebuck Stadium. They are; Creven Powell, Anthony Faulcon, Baron Coffin, Torri Stewart, Earnest Murphy, Larry Jones, Domonic Strand, DeAundre Barfield, Sanerivi Reupena, Kahawaiolaa Soon, Jermaine Lindsay, John Davis, Brandon White, Brandon Smith, Sean Gueringer, DeWitt Dixon, Billy Wiggins, Bryan Garnett, Tolbert Matthews and Devven Sutton.

These seniors have been an integral part of the Vikings' third appearance since 2006 in the CIAA title game. This year the Vikings will square off against Winston-Salem State University on Saturday, November 12 at Durham County Stadium in Durham, NC.

However before the trip westbound to the Bull City, the Vikings will look to run their win streak to eight games over the visiting Lions of Lincoln University.

Saturday Viking fans may also witness a bit of history as junior tailback Daronte McNeill needs only 12 yards to become ECSU's all-time leading rusher.

Courtesy ECSU Sports Information

With win today, Spartans will earn share of MEAC title

NORFOLK, Virginia -- Terrence Pugh is at Norfolk State because of history. Now he has a chance to make some of his own. A linebacker from Indian River High in Chesapeake, Pugh was part of Norfolk State's 2008 recruiting class, the group that followed the best Division I season the Spartans have produced.

"With coach (Pete) Adrian and everything, the program was on the rise," Pugh said. "I know everyone in the area is like, 'Who wants to go to Norfolk State? It's right down the street.' I always thought it would be a chance to bring a MEAC championship to the hometown."

With a victory today against Savannah State, the Spartans will earn at least a share of the MEAC title, their first since joining the conference and making the jump to Division I in 1997.

Pugh, an All-Tidewater first-team player after helping Indian River to an Eastern Region title game, chose Norfolk State over scholarship offers from Liberty, Virginia Military Institute and, most impressively, Youngstown State, a program with a far prouder tradition than Norfolk State.



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FVSU set for rivalry showdown

Columbus, Georgia -- The senior season of Bernard Goodrum has been more forgettable than not. Beating Stillman by 49 points wasn’t expected to be the highlight for a team expected to contend for the SIAC East Division title.

And that was all but erased by a 49-12 loss a week later to Morehouse during which running back David Carter rolled the Wildcats for 351 yards. So here Fort Valley State sits, however, at 2-7, guaranteed to finish with its worst season in years. But the possibility of a measure of salvation awaits -- Albany State and the Fountain City Classic.

“We’ve got to win the Classic,” said Goodrum, a senior from Spalding. “The Classic is our championship game.”

FVSU and Albany State meet in the 22nd Fountain City Classic at McClung Stadium in Columbus. Head coach Donald Pittman said that the Wildcats have rebounded from their Morehouse loss to focus on their rival.

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Fountain City Classic: Fort Valley State seeks upset of Albany State

At first glance, it appears Albany State’s football team with a 7-2 record shouldn’t have much trouble against Fort Valley State, 2-7, in today’s 22nd annual Fountain City Classic. Ask folks at Stillman College about that.

On Oct. 22, Fort Valley State was 1-6 and played host to Stillman College, then 6-1. At the finish, Fort Valley State had a homecoming victory by an astonishing 52-3 score. “Everything clicked for us that day,” coach Donald Pittman said. He hopes it does again at 2 p.m., when his Wildcats clash with the Golden Rams at A.J. McClung Memorial Stadium.

A sellout crowd of 15,000 is expected. Pittman’s team has no chance at playoff action so, he said, “We’ve got one last time to get it right.”

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2011 SIAC Volleyball All-Conference & All-Academic Teams Announced

ATLANTA, Georgia — The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announces the 2011 SIAC Volleyball All-Conference team as voted by the SIAC Volleyball Coaches Association. The 2011 team is led by 2011 SIAC Player of the Year Jamila McKinnis of Stillman College, 2011 SIAC Offensive Player of the Year LaTayvia Mack of Benedict College, and 2011 SIAC Setter of the Year Kathrin Fischer of Claflin University.

McKinnis, a senior from Mobile, AL, leads the SIAC with 450 kills and finished with a .364 hitting percentage, which ranks second in the SIAC. In 32 matches, the 5-10 outside hitter averaged 3.88 kills per set, which ranks second in the SIAC, while totaling 294 digs and 55 service aces, putting her among the conference leaders in both categories. The All-SIAC first team selection also totaled 334 assists and 59 total blocks. McKinnis finishes her career as a two-time SIAC Player of the Year, earning the honor as a sophomore in 2009, and a four-time All-SIAC selection.

 Jamila McKinnis
Stillman College

Mack, a junior from Holly Hill, SC, leads the SIAC with 4.67 kills per set, totaling 308 kills in 66 sets, which ranks sixth nationally. The 6-1 outside hitter also ranks third in the SIAC with a .342 hitting percentage while totaling 21 service aces, 74 digs, and 18 total blocks. The All-SIAC first team selection also currently ranks sixth in Division II averaging 5.20 points per set.

Fischer, a sophomore from Vienna, Austria, leads the SIAC in assists and ranks second in assists per set. The All-SIAC first team setter also leads the conference in service aces and currently leads Division II in aces per set.

Joining the three aforementioned players on the first team include Claflin University sophomore Lauren Calvin, Clark Atlanta University junior Ashley Brooks, Paine College junior Victoria Claytor, and Stillman College senior Christine Mallory.

Kathrin Fischer
Claflin University

Kentucky State University and Claflin University are tied for the most selections with three. The Thorobrettes’ selections include All-SIAC second teamer Audrey Sherles, who was also named 2011 SIAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Claflin University Head Coach Vernell Keitt-Capers was named 2011 SIAC Coach of the Year. In 2011, Keitt-Capers, who was Co-Coach of the Year last season, led the Lady Panthers to a 13-3 record in the SIAC, 26-7 overall, and their second SIAC East Division title in as many years.

McKinnis and Stillman College lead the SIAC Volleyball All-Academic team. McKinnis, a Biology major, led the way with a 4.0 grade point average while the Lady Tigers had four selections on the team and also claimed the all-academic team award.

2011 SIAC Volleyball All-Conference Team
1st Team
Name Class Position Institution
LaTayvia Mack Junior Outside Hitter Benedict College
Lauren Calvin Sophomore Outside Hitter Claflin University
Ashley Brooks Junior Outside Hitter Clark Atlanta University
Victoria Claytor Junior Outside Hitter Paine College
Jamila McKinnis Senior Outside Hitter Stillman College
Christine Mallory Senior Libero Stillman College
Kathrin Fischer Sophomore Setter Claflin University

2nd Team
Name Class Position Institution
Sabrina Garcia Senior Outside Hitter Albany State University
Faith Simmons Senior Outside Hitter Claflin University
Ayanna Parker Freshman Outside Hitter Kentucky State University
Audrey Sherles Freshman Outside Hitter Kentucky State University
Janae’ Kearse Senior Outside Hitter Paine College
Tyrealle Reed Senior Libero Benedict College
Jordan Foyer Freshman Setter Kentucky State University

Player of the Year: Jamila McKinnis, Stillman College
Offensive Player of the Year: LaTayvia Mack, Benedict College
Defensive Player of the Year: Audrey Sherles, Kentucky State University
Setter of the Year: Kathrin Fischer, Claflin University
Coach of the Year: Vernell Keitt-Capers, Claflin University

2011 SIAC Volleyball All-Academic Team
Name Class Major GPA Institution
Jamila McKinnis Senior Biology 4.00 Stillman College
Ebony Lollis Senior Biology 3.94 Stillman College
Cynteria Jones Junior English 3.92 Stillman College
Kathrin Fischer Sophomore Politics & Justice System 3.91 Claflin University
Christine Mallory Senior Education 3.82 Stillman College
Soncya Williams Sophomore Music 3.82 LeMoyne-Owen College
Jamila Winston Senior Accounting 3.79 Benedict College

All-Academic Team Award: Stillman College, 3.73 GPA

Courtesy of SIAC