Reuther, Hamilton earn top honors on All-GCAC team

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's Taylor Reuther is the 2012 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year in women's volleyball, and XU's Christabell Hamilton is a repeat choice as GCAC Coach of the Year.
    

Reuther is one of five XU players honored. Moira Kirk and Franziska Pirkl joined Reuther on the first team, and Chinedu Echebelem and Jodi Chatters made the second team.
    

GCAC coaches selected the all-conference team Wednesday afternoon, and the results were announced during the evening at a banquet for the teams prior to the GCAC Tournament, which will begin Thursday in Little Rock, Ark.

From left: XU All-GCAC selections Jodi Chatters, Chinedu Echebelem,
 Moira Kirk, Player of the Year Taylor Reuther, Franziska Pirkl
 and Coach of the Year Christabell Hamilton.

Reuther, a sophomore outside hitter from Metairie, La., and a graduate of St. Mary's Dominican High School, leads the Gold Nuggets with 286 kills, 66 aces and 251 digs in 25 matches. She ranks second in the NAIA with 0.78 aces per set. Reuther has eight kill-dig double-doubles, including 21 kills and 20 digs at Belhaven in the championship match of the Belhaven Tournament on Sept. 8.

    

Hamilton, who shared the GCAC coaching award a year ago, won it outright this time after leading Xavier to a second consecutive 10-0 conference record. The Gold Nuggets are 18-7 this season — including a school-record 11 consecutive road victories — and 41-14 since Hamilton was hired in June 2011.
    

Kirk, a sophomore middle blocker from Dallas and a graduate of Bishop Lynch High School, leads Xavier with a .308 hitting percentage and 69 blocks. She's third on the team with 197 kills and 23 aces. Kirk has nine matches of four or more blocks, and she closed the regular season with double-figure kills in 6-of-8 matches. She hit .416 in GCAC matches.
    

Pirkl, a freshman from Munich, Germany, and a graduate of Theodolinden Gymnasium, replaced the graduated Patrice Hightower, an All-GCAC setter in 2011, and recorded 663 assists, 36 aces, 34 kills, 116 digs and 24 blocks. Pirkl ranks 42nd in the NAIA in aces per set and second in the GCAC — first among freshmen — in assists per set.
    

Echebelem, a sophomore from Dallas and a graduate of Duncanville High School, is second on the Nuggets with 211 kills and 220 digs. She has seven kill-dig doubles and ranks among the GCAC's top 12 in kills, kills per set, hitting percentage, digs and digs per set. Her 22 digs against Belhaven on Oct. 29 are the most in a match this season by an XU player.
    

Chatters, a freshman setter/libero from Lake Charles, La., and a graduate of St. Louis Catholic High School, emerged late in the season as the Nuggets' most reliable libero. She will enter the GCAC Tournament with a streak of eight consecutive matches with 10 or more digs, Xavier's longest streak since it reinstated volleyball in 2010. Chatters has 175 digs, 119 in the past eight matches.
    

Reuther, Kirk and Echebelem are repeat All-GCAC selections.
    

Xavier will lead off the GCAC Tournament with a 10 a.m. Thursday match against Philander Smith. If the Gold Nuggets win, they'll play at 6 p.m. Thursday against the winner of the Talladega-Dillard match. If the Nuggets lose to Philander Smith, they'll play at 8:30 a.m. Friday in the losers bracket. Xavier is the defending GCAC Tournament champion.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

XULAATHLETICS

TSU Mourns Passing of Freshman Football Player William Wayne Jones III

William Wayne Jones, III
(Photo Courtesy Tennessee State University Athletics)

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (11/7/2012)  - Tennessee State University is tonight mourning the death of one of its student- athletes.

William Wayne Jones, III, a freshman walk-on defensive back from Smyrna, Tenn., passed out and became unresponsive during an early evening practice at approximately 4 p.m. Jones was transported to Baptist Medical Center in Nashville where efforts to revive him were unsuccessful and died at approximately 5:50 p.m.

"This is a very tragic day for our entire Tennessee State University community and we are devastated by the sudden passing of this young man," said Teresa Phillips, TSU Athletics Director. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this very difficult time. Our University and our football team are hurting as we feel the loss of one of our own. As a team and a family we will grieve alongside the family and do everything we can to help support the family through this very difficult time."

Students, faculty, staff and the TSU community are mourning the loss of the young football player. More details will be made as they become available.

COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

Joe Taylor Steps Down Immediately As FAMU Head Football Coach

HEAD COACH JOE TAYLOR

TALLAHASSEE, Florida  (11/7/12) -- Florida A&M University (FAMU) head football coach Joseph "Joe" Taylor announced today that he will officially retire from coaching the Rattlers effective immediately.

"With the enormous amount of coverage that my retirement has been receiving, I felt it was best to step aside and let the team focus on the last two games," Taylor said. "With me it has always been about the student-athletes not me. I want to thank FAMU for the opportunity they gave me to finish out my coaching career here at this fine institution. I wish them well in their future endeavors."

"Coach Taylor and I both decided it was best for him to step aside, so that the team can focus on the last two games of the season," said FAMU Athletic Director Derek Horne. "We want to thank Coach Taylor for his years of service here at FAMU and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Horne also stated that Taylor would transition into a role of advising the athletic department on improving the overall football operations until the end of his contract in January of 2013.  FAMU alumnus and defensive coordinator Earl Holmes will take on the day-to-day operations of the Rattler football program.

"I want to thank Coach Joe Taylor again for all of his support of the university through the football program," said FAMU Interim President Larry Robinson. "He has had enormous success as a coach. He has helped many athletes to create a balance between their academic progression and what is required to create a successful program. With this recent development, we must complete the last two games of the season without him. We know that it will not be easy for our student athletes, but I'm encouraging them to work with the new leadership and continue to perform at their highest level."

Taylor finishes his illustrious coaching career with 233-96-4, tying him with former Southern University Coach Arnett "Ace" Mumford and placing him third among historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) coaches in career wins. Ahead of Taylor is John "Big John" Merritt of Tennessee State with 235 career wins, who ranks second. Eddie Robinson leads the list of HBCU coaches with 408 career wins.

In five seasons at FAMU, Taylor compiled a 35-19 record, tying legendary coach Alonzo S. "Jake" Gaither with nine wins in his first season as head coach, the third most wins in school history. He surpassed Gaither, after the 2010 season, as the Rattlers went 8-3 and winning a share of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championship (MEAC) with Bethune-Cookman and South Carolina State, becoming the first coach in school history to record 25 wins in his first three seasons.

Taylor, in his first season as head coach of the Rattlers, led FAMU to a 9-3 season in 2008, after the Rattlers finished the previous season 3-8 in 2007. In 2009 and 2010, Taylor led the Rattlers to back-to-back 8-3 seasons as the Rattlers reeled off six straight wins and knocked off an undefeated Bethune-Cookman team in the annual 31st Florida Blue Florida Classic at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., in 2010.

His 2009 team produced the MEAC Offensive Player of the Year in Curtis Pulley and the Division I FCS All-Time Punt Returner for TDs in LeRoy Vann, who finished his career with eight (8) TD runbacks, surpassing Kenny Shedd (1989-92) of University of Northern Iowa, while tying the NCAA single season TD punt return record with five (5) set by North Carolina A&T's Curtis DeLoatch in 2001. He also finished his career with 11 total TDs on kick returns, including the three (3) on kickoffs he tallied in 2008.

A man of great faith, Taylor has been the mentor to several young coaches who have joined the ranks during his career. Well respected in the athletics community, Taylor has graduated more than 60 players in the first four years at FAMU. Coaching the Rattlers through their NCAA probation, Taylor managed to find success off the field, recruiting athletes that would win FAMU the NCAA award for biggest APR improvement in the MEAC in 2009.

Taylor departs with an impressive resume of accolades. He has won four Black College National Championships, graduated hundreds of athletes over his 40-year career, sent several players to the professional ranks and most importantly has helped influence the lives of thousands of productive citizens.

COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

WSSU Rams hope to add exclamation point to perfect season

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina  --  For the second straight year, the Winston-Salem State University Rams capped off a perfect regular season on Saturday with a 41-8 win over Fayetteville State.

WSSU used another stifling defensive effort in limiting the Broncos to just 154 yards. Fayetteville State was held to just six first downs and was just one of 13 on third downs.

The Rams are now focused on Elizabeth City State University. They will face the team Saturday for the CIAA Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Durham County Stadium.

In other football news, Matthew Browning, a redshirt freshman defensive back, has been named to the 2012 CIAA Football All-Rookie team. The Charlotte native finished the 2012 regular season with 24 tackles, 1.5 tackles for lost yardage, one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups.

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Frazier, NCCU get one more chance vs. Taylor

DURHAM, North Carolina  — This likely will be N.C. Central coach Henry Frazier III’s last time going against Florida A&M coach Joe Taylor, who announced his retirement this past week before the Rattlers’ game against N.C. A&T.

Frazier said he has head to head with Taylor twice and lost both times.

Taylor, who has the most wins in the history of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, said he is not stepping away from the game because FAMU (3-6, 3-3 MEAC) is struggling. Taylor said he and his wife agreed, during the 2011 Christmas holidays, that 40 years on the sidelines was enough.

Taylor, who has coached at Howard and Hampton in the MEAC and Virginia Union in the CIAA, has won 233 games during his career.

Complete Game Notes (PDF) 
   



“It’s kind of a melancholy feeling, so to speak, because he’s one of the best that’s ever done this thing,” Frazier said.

But Frazier said he, with all due respect, is going to try to beat the pants off Taylor on Saturday (3 p.m., WNCU 90.7-FM).

“I wish him nothing but the best after Saturday,” Frazier said.

A win by NCCU (6-3, 5-1) would equal ...

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OBAMA VICTORY SPEECH: 'THE BEST IS YET TO COME'

CHICAGO, Illinois  --  President Barack Obama said early Wednesday the American people have "picked ourselves up" and fought back during tough economic times, declaring after winning re-election that the "best is yet to come."

Obama said he wants to meet with Republican rival Mitt Romney to discuss how they can work together. He says they may have "battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply."

The president rolled to a second term over Romney, winning more than 300 electoral votes.

Obama was welcomed by thunderous applause as he arrived on stage at McCormick Place in his hometown, joined by first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia.

Obama sounded a conciliatory tone after his victory, saying he has learned from those who supported him and those who opposed him. And he says he returns to Washington "more determined" and "more inspired."

He said he's hoping to work with Republicans to solve the nation's problems.

He spoke to a cheering crowd shortly after Romney told supporters in Boston that it's time for the nation to unite behind the president.

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Defending champ XU Nuggets to play host team in 1st round

Xavier will attempt to win its second consecutive GCAC Tournament.

 

NEW ORLEANS — The Xavier University of Louisiana women's volleyball team will play Philander Smith at 10 a.m. Thursday in the first match of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament at Philander's Mims Gym in Little Rock, Ark.

The Gold Nuggets (18-7) finished 10-0 in the GCAC to win their second consecutive regular-season championship. They're the defending champion of the GCAC Tournament after winning all four of their matches a year ago in Nashville, Tenn.

All eight conference members qualified for the three-day, double-elimination event. Xavier is the No. 1 seed from the South Division, and Philander Smith is seeded fourth from the North Division. The tournament winner will receive the GCAC's automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship, which will begin Nov. 17 with 12 first-round matches at campus sites.

The other first-round matchups Thursday will be Edward Waters (No. 4 South) vs. Tougaloo (No. 1 North) at noon, Talladega (No. 2 North) vs. Dillard (No. 3 South) at 2 p.m. and SUNO (No. 2 South) vs. Fisk (No. 3 North) at 4 p.m.

If Xavier defeats Philander Smith, it will play the Talladega-Dillard winner at 6 p.m. Thursday. If Philander Smith defeats Xavier, the Gold Nuggets' second match would start at 8:30 a.m. Friday — in the losers bracket against the Tougaloo-Edward Waters loser. A first-round loss would require Xavier to win three matches Friday and three more times Saturday to repeat as champion.

Sophomores Taylor Reuther (286 kills, 66 aces, 251 digs), Moira Kirk (197 kills, .308 hitting percentage, 23 aces, 69 blocks) and Chinedu Echebelem (211 kills, 220 digs) are, like last year, the Gold Nuggets' leaders. Freshman Jodi Chatters, recruited as a setter, became the Nuggets' libero late in the season and will enter the tournament with a streak of eight consecutive matches with 10 or more digs — the longest streak since Xavier reinstated volleyball in 2010. Three more freshmen recorded 100 or more digs, including Franziska Pirkl, who has 116 digs, 663 assists and 36 aces.

Xavier got eight kills apiece from Kerris Crier, Reuther and Echebelem and won 25-17, 25-15, 25-5 at Philander Smith on Sept. 29 in their other meeting this season.

The Gold Nuggets defeated SUNO 25-12, 25-17, 25-20 in the 2011 tournament final. Xavier rallied for a 21-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-12, 15-7 victory against SUNO at The Barn last week to clinch the regular-season championship.


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