TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- Florida A&M University head volleyball coach Tony Trifonov announced this week the signing of three prime prospects to National Letters of Intent to join the volleyball team for the 2016 season.
Two of the signees – outside hitters Alexandria Hightower and Alexis Gosha – are highly decorated prep performers, while the third - outside hitter Maria Garcia, performed in three international world championship events this past summer.
@ Garcia, a 6-1 hitter from the Dominican Republic,was a member of the Dominican Republic’s Under 20 FIVB World Championship team, which captured the gold medal in competition in Puerto Rico. She was also a member of the bronze medal-winning Under 23 team, along with current FAMU player Pamela Soriano; and was on the Under 18 National team as well.
She plans to major in Psychology at FAMU.
@ Hightower, a 5-11 native of Chula Vista, California, is a two-time team captain for Olympian High School, which was in the California state finals at this writing.
A two-time athlete of the week in 2015, and MVP of the Sweetwater Tournament and a member of the Scripps Ranch Tournament all-tournament team, Hightower has helped lead her teams at Olympian (2014, 2105), and previously at Francis Parker High (2012, 2013), to four regional or sectional titles, two state titles (2012, 2013) and three state finals (2012, 2013, 2015).
She also has six years of playing experience in club volleyball, earning Best Players notice at the 2014 AAU National Tournament, and helped lead here 2012 Wave Volleyball Club to a fifth place finish in the Junior National division tournament.
The daughter of former FAMU Football player Arthur Hightower, now an executive with the San Diego Chargers, Alexandria was one of the San Diego Union Tribune area volleyball players to watch coming into the 2015 campaign.
Recruited by North Carolina Central, American University, Columbia University and Albany (N.Y.) University, Hightower plans to major in Biology/Pre Medicine at FAMU.
@ Gosha, a 5-10 outside hitter, right side hitter from Apopka, Florida high school, brings six years of volleyball playing experience at the prep school and club team levels, beginning here career in seventh grade.
She is a two-time All-Metro performer and captain of the Apopka High team, and played on some stellar club teams as well.
Alexis Gosha- OVA 17 Asics from Crystal on Vimeo.
Gosha played on a club that finished third in the USA National Championships; was a member of teams that finished second in the Florida regional tournament, and third place in the Big South National qualifier.
An academic all-star as well, Gosha is a member of the National Honor Society, was in the Medical Magnet program at Apopka High, and was dual enrolled at Valencia Community College in Orlando.
Recruited by Long Beach State, UMass, North Florida, Tampa, Georgia State, VCU, FAU, FIU, Mercer, Florida Tech, Radford and Lehigh, Gosha plans to major in Physical Therapy at FAMU.
“This is one of the better recruiting classes in the history of the program,” said FAMU head coach Tony Trifonov, who just completed his 18th season.
“These young ladies will come in and make an immediate impact on our program without question.”
COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Thursday, December 3, 2015
Gold Nuggets hold on to earn 4th straight victory
NEW ORLEANS -- Donyeah Mayfield scored 18 points Tuesday, and NAIA No. 21 Xavier University of Louisiana made six free throws in the final 33 seconds to preserve a 68-62 women's basketball victory against Mobile.
The Gold Nuggets (7-2) won their fourth in a row, all at home. They'll play five in a row on the road before their next home game Jan. 2.
Xavier trailed 31-27 at halftime, but Mayfield scored nine third-quarter points, and the Gold Nuggets never trailed after Mayfield's basket at 6:18 made it 38-37. But the Lady Rams (5-2) rallied from a nine-point deficit to tie the score at 51, and there were four additional one-point margins thereafter.
Mikayla Bates closed the scoring for Xavier with a pair of free throws after she rebounded teammate Amara Person-Hampton's missed free throw with 20 seconds remaining.
Mayfield, who reached double figures for the third consecutive game and the fifth time in six games, was the Gold Nuggets' only double-figure scorer. Joi Simmons scored nine points, and Kiera Robinson had eight points, six rebounds and three blocked shots. Emoni Harvey scored a season-high seven points, six in the first half on 3-of-3 from the floor. Trana Hopkins had a career-best six assists.
Starla Daggan and Laura Beth Wright scored 16 points apiece for Mobile (5-2), and Kali Koenig scored 10.
Xavier committed a season-worst 30 turnovers, five more than Mobile, but outshot the Lady Rams 41.2 to 31.3 percent from the floor and outrebounded them 43-38. The Gold Nuggets' 23 free throws and 34 attempts were season highs.
Xavier defeated Mobile for the 16th consecutive time on its home floor. They'll meet again Jan. 13 at Mobile.
The victory was the 399th for Bo Browder in his head-coaching career at four-year colleges. He is 397-144 in 17 seasons at Xavier, 2-8 as Evansville's interim coach in 1995-96.
Xavier will travel to Montgomery, Ala., to play Auburn Montgomery at 5:30 p.m. Friday and Faulkner at 4 p.m. Saturday.
BOX SCORE
Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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UWG Football Preview: The Tuskegee Game
CARROLLTON, Georgia – The West Georgia football program is in the NCAA quarterfinals for the second straight season, taking on the Tuskegee Tigers this Saturday at noon in University Stadium. The Wolves are the top seed in Super Region 2 and the Tigers are the sixth seed. Kickoff for Saturday's contest is set for noon, with gates to open at 10:30 a.m.Gameday Timeline
8:00 AM - UWG Athletic Complex Open for Tailgating
10:00 AM - Ticket Booths Open
10:30 AM - Wolf Walk at Wolf Plaza
After the Wolf Walk - University Stadium Gates Open
12:00 PM - UWG vs. Tuskegee
Ticket Information
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance of Saturday's contest via the online portal available at www.uwgsports.com/playoffcentral, utilizing the "print-at-home" feature to ensure the quickest passage through the university stadium gates. Chairback seats are $20, general admission $15 and student tickets are $10 on gameday.
How They Got Here
The Tuskegee Tigers had one of the biggest upsets of the 2015 playoffs thus far on Saturday afternoon, taking down traditional power North Alabama on the road, as the 6th-seeded Tigers beat 2nd-seed UNA 35-31. Tuskegee scored early, but had to come from behind late, scoring with 19 seconds left to seal the victory.
West Georgia also had a barnburner in the other Super Region 2 semifinal game, as the Wolves rallied from a 20-19 deficit to score with 3:09 left. Dallas Dickey took the ball in on a quarterback keeper on that final offensive play, then the defense held at midfield with back-to-back sacks on third and fourth down to seal the Wolves second-straight trip to the regional final.
UWG Preview
- The West Georgia Wolves put their first playoff game of the 2015 season behind them in dramatic fashion last weekend at University Stadium, thrilling the more than 7,000 fans in attendance with a battle to the wire against arch-rival Valdosta State, winning 27-20.
The win was the fourth playoff victory under head coach Will Hall and the third straight win against Valdosta State.
West Georgia comes into the contest with an 11-1 record on the season and sporting one of the best defenses in the nation. The Wolves allow just 15.3 points per game on the year annd have given up just 20 touchdowns overall.
The Wolves are best against the run, as teams have just six rushing touchdowns against the UWG defense.
On offense, West Georgia is a balanced attack with an emphasis on the run. Three explosive backs in Devontae Jackson, Lamarcus Franks and Aares McCall have combined for nearly 2,000 yards on the year behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation.
2015 Notables
- If not for the final West Georgia drive of the day against Valdosta State, neither Dallas Dickey or Devontae Jackson would have had 100 yards rushing against the Blazers. Jackson had three carries for 35 yards on "The Drive" while Dickey had four carries for 41 yards, including the nine-yard game-winner with 3:09 left. Jackson led the team with 126 yards on the afternoon while Dickey had 100 yards on the nose.
- Junior defensive end Dylan Donahue showed his mettle against Valdosta State last weekend with 3.5 sacks in the contest. The Montana native showed that he is not just a solid defensive end, but also a gamer, as two of his season-high sack total came in the fourth quarter. Donahue and the rest of the defensive line harassed the VSU quarterback throughout the afternoon, making contact on 20 different occasions.
- Freshman running back Devontae Jackson is on the verge of joining an elite club, as he is just 90 yards away from becoming the 10th back in school history with 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. Jackson also would be the first freshman in that class, rising to the top in creating a new category in the UWG record books.
- It's tough to look at individual periods and compare scores when outscoring opponents at a rate of 456-184 on the year, but the third quarter has been owned by the Wolves this season, as West Georgia has outscored opponents 110-21 in that period in 2015. The second quarter has also been strong, as UWG has outscored opponents 149-49 in that period as well.
COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WEST GEORGIA MEDIA RELATIONS
UMES basketball coach Bobby Collins not discouraged by 1-5 start
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland -- The UMES men's basketball team scored one fewer point than Georgetown in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the team from tumbling to a 68-49 loss Tuesday night.The Hawks are 1-5 so far, but those five losses came against opponents from larger programs. That’s partly why coach Bobby Collins isn’t going crazy about the team’s record.
“I think Georgetown’s a very good team, Missouri’s a good team, Kansas State is a very good team, Wofford is a very good team, and so is Fairfield,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “I think we might hear those teams’ names again in March. So to be 1-5 at this moment, I’m far from discouraged. I just want my team to get better, and for us, it’s really about being good in those games in March. That’s where I’m focusing.”
UMES can now turn its attention to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference portion of its schedule. The team will open league play Saturday at North Carolina Central, which is 1-4 but owns the second-longest active Division I win streak at home at 36. (Arizona owns the longest streak at 42.)
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PVAMU Lady Panthers overwhelm Louisiana Tech 77-68
RUSTON, Louisiana -- The Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers led from start to finish Wednesday as they defeated Louisiana Tech 77-68.
Alexus Parker and Lamaria Cole both set career highs in points as the Lady Panthers (3-1) handed one of the most storied programs in women's basketball history its first loss to a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 40 years.
Parker scored 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting and grabbed three steals, while Cole added 24 points, four assists and four steals for Prairie View A&M; she was 10-of-19 from the field. Monique Abbs came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Lady Panthers.
Brandi Wingate, the daughter of 15-year NBA veteran David Wingate, recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Louisiana Tech (3-3).
Cole scored on a 3-pointer to open the scoring 47 seconds into the first quarter, and from there the Lady Panthers led the rest of the way, as the Lady Techsters were unable to tie or take the lead.
Prairie View A&M's up-tempo offense helped force 22 Tech turnovers, yielding a 27-13 Lady Panthers advantage in points off turnovers. The Lady Panthers led by as many as 15 points midway through the second quarter, and held a 61-47 lead through the end of three periods.
The Lady Techsters, who are coached by Tyler Summitt, the son of legendary former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, would get within six points with less than five minutes to play in the game, but would no closer. Louisiana Tech shot 63 percent from 3-point range in the second half after making only one out of 12 long-range shots in the first half (8.3 percent).
The Lady Panthers shot 49 percent (33 of 67) from the floor and 42 percent (5 of 12) from 3-point range. Their only shortcoming came at the free throw line, where they shot only 40 percent (6 of 15).
Larissa Scott, the nation's leading rebounder going in to Wednesday's game, pulled in 13 rebounds and scored six points.
Prairie View A&M's win ended Louisiana Tech's 29-game winning streak over SWAC opponents. The only SWAC school to claim a victory over the Lady Techsters before Wednesday was Southern University, which defeated Louisiana Tech in the 1975-76 season.
The win also gave Prairie View A&M head coach Dawn Brown her first victory over a Conference USA program in five tries. The Lady Panthers had lost their three previous matchups against Louisiana Tech in a series that dates back to 1989.
The Lady Panthers return to action Saturday when they host Lamar. Tipoff between the Cardinals and Lady Panthers is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Prairie View A&M's William J. Nicks Arena.
Box Score
COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Alexus Parker and Lamaria Cole both set career highs in points as the Lady Panthers (3-1) handed one of the most storied programs in women's basketball history its first loss to a school from the Southwestern Athletic Conference in 40 years.
Parker scored 26 points on 12-of-19 shooting and grabbed three steals, while Cole added 24 points, four assists and four steals for Prairie View A&M; she was 10-of-19 from the field. Monique Abbs came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Lady Panthers.
Brandi Wingate, the daughter of 15-year NBA veteran David Wingate, recorded a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds for Louisiana Tech (3-3).
The Lady Panthers handed the Lady Techsters their first loss to a team from @theSWAC since the 1975-76 season!
Cole scored on a 3-pointer to open the scoring 47 seconds into the first quarter, and from there the Lady Panthers led the rest of the way, as the Lady Techsters were unable to tie or take the lead.
Prairie View A&M's up-tempo offense helped force 22 Tech turnovers, yielding a 27-13 Lady Panthers advantage in points off turnovers. The Lady Panthers led by as many as 15 points midway through the second quarter, and held a 61-47 lead through the end of three periods.
The Lady Techsters, who are coached by Tyler Summitt, the son of legendary former Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, would get within six points with less than five minutes to play in the game, but would no closer. Louisiana Tech shot 63 percent from 3-point range in the second half after making only one out of 12 long-range shots in the first half (8.3 percent).
The Lady Panthers shot 49 percent (33 of 67) from the floor and 42 percent (5 of 12) from 3-point range. Their only shortcoming came at the free throw line, where they shot only 40 percent (6 of 15).
Larissa Scott, the nation's leading rebounder going in to Wednesday's game, pulled in 13 rebounds and scored six points.
Prairie View A&M's win ended Louisiana Tech's 29-game winning streak over SWAC opponents. The only SWAC school to claim a victory over the Lady Techsters before Wednesday was Southern University, which defeated Louisiana Tech in the 1975-76 season.
The win also gave Prairie View A&M head coach Dawn Brown her first victory over a Conference USA program in five tries. The Lady Panthers had lost their three previous matchups against Louisiana Tech in a series that dates back to 1989.
The Lady Panthers return to action Saturday when they host Lamar. Tipoff between the Cardinals and Lady Panthers is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Prairie View A&M's William J. Nicks Arena.
Box Score
COURTESY PRAIRIE VIEW A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
Air Force Reserve Named Celebration Bowl Sponsor
ATLANTA, Georgia -- Air Force Reserve joins the new Celebration Bowl as title sponsor of the game that opens the college football bowl season. The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl will crown an HBCU football champion as the champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) square off against the champions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) on ABC at noon on Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.“We are very excited to be the title sponsor of the inaugural Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl,” said Col. Christopher Nick, the Air Force Reserve’s Recruiting Service commander. “We feel that spotlighting the top teams from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities aligns well with the Air Force Reserve’s commitment to diversity. We hope that the players, attendees and viewers will gain greater awareness about Air Force Reserve opportunities to serve part-time in the military while living in their local communities.”
“As we continue to build toward creating a pinnacle event when the inaugural Celebration Bowl kicks off on December 19, it is exciting to have the Air Force Reserve join us as our title sponsor,” said John Grant, Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl executive director. “This game being the first kickoff on the first day of the college bowl season is a tremendous opportunity, made all the more exceptional with such a valued sponsor and representative of the United States Armed Forces.”
Fans can purchase tickets to the Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl at ticketmaster.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or at the Georgia Dome box office. Prices range from $15 to $60, plus applicable taxes and fees.
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.
COURTESY SWAC MEDIA RELATIONS
SWAC title could come down to special teams
GRAMBLING, Louisiana — When asking a football coach the keys to beating an opponent, the response usually includes some form of the following "offense, defense and special teams." It's the quintessential coach-speak item that has become an empty phrase.Winning on offense and defense are obviously key, but just how much goes into special teams preparation? Coaches at Grambling say not enough at some programs.
"A lot of times they focus on offense and defense and they just kind of go through special teams," Grambling linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Terrance Graves said. "Here at Grambling, we do a great job of preparing for special teams. We actually implement a special teams game plan."
The special teams plan was used this past weekend when Grambling neutralized Southern speedster Willie Quinn, who is regarded as one of the top special teams players in the country.
This weekend, Grambling is hoping special teams can play another key role in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship against Alcorn State.
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