Gold Nuggets split a pair of matches on opening day

DEARBORN, Michigan— Xavier University of Louisiana volleyball opened the Pat Kendrick era Friday with a split of two matches at the UM-Dearborn Early Bird.

The Gold Nuggets trailed 8-4 early against Trinity International, then rallied for a 25-23, 25-16, 25-16 victory. But in the second match NAIA No. 24 Madonna erased a 10-6 XULA lead in the final set and defeated the Nuggets 25-15, 21-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-11.

Freshman Vivica Price-Spraggins led XULA with eight kills against Trinity International, and Tiffany Phillips served two aces. Against Madonna, Juliana Tomasoni had 12 kills, and freshman Kayla Black had 11. Another freshman, Anna Dalla Vecchia, served four aces, all in the second set.

Kendrick, who led NCAA Division I George Mason from 1985-2014, was hired in February as XULA's head coach.

The victory against Trinity International was XULA's first on the road in a season opener since its debut season in 2003.

Trinity International is 1-3, and Madonna is 5-0.

XULA will play two more matches in this event Saturday — 10 a.m. EDT against Lawrence Tech and 2 p.m. against Fisk — then open its home schedule at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Mobile at the Convocation Center.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
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XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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XULA Price opens season with nearly 30-second victory

Results:  Men    Women

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana sophomore Taylor Price ran two miles in 12 minutes, 51.42 seconds Friday to win the women's individual championship of the Xavier Big Easy Opener cross country meet at City Park.

Price, from Missouri City, Texas, and a graduate of Ridge Point High School, recorded the second-fastest time by a XULA woman at this distance. Catherine Fakler set the record of 12:42.18 in this meet three years ago.

"The course was pretty easy," Price said. "It went by faster than I thought. For the first mile I paced myself, then on the second mile I just gave what I had left."

It was Price's second collegiate victory. She was the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference champion in 2016. Price won by nearly 30 seconds over runner-up Sasha Solano-McDaniel of Loyola, whose time was 13:18.50.

In a meet featuring three city rivals, Loyola won the women's and men's team championships and had the men's individual winner, Walter Ramsey. The freshman ran 5,000 meters in 16:51.79.

XULA's other top-10 finishers were Maliya Vaughan (third place, 13:46.17) and Brianna Pace (eighth, 15:10.51) in the women's race and Camren Sewell (third, 17:36.27) and Oji Wells (10th, 19:36.14) in the men's. It was collegiate debut of Sewell, a freshman.

In women's team scoring, Loyola had 24 points, followed by XULA with 40 points and Dillard with 61. Loyola won the men's title with 18 points, followed by Dillard with 58 and XULA with 59. Loyola had five of the first seven women's finishers and five of the first six men's finishers.

XULA will travel to Clinton, Miss., for the Mississippi College Season Opener next Friday.

Ed Cassiere, Assistant Athletic Director for Communications
XULAgold.com
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA 
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Full Battle -- FAMU "Marching 100" vs Texas Southern "Ocean of Soul" 2017

S.C. State linebacker Darius Leonard gives Bulldogs reason to be optimistic

ORANGEBURG, South Carolina -- Coming out of Lake View High School, linebacker Darius Leonard was used to being on the football field for just about every snap.

So when Leonard arrived at South Carolina State in the fall of 2013, the last thing he expected was to sit on the sidelines for an entire season.

But sitting out as a freshman and redshirting might have been the best thing that ever happened to Leonard.



Like a lot of athletes that S.C. State head coach Buddy Pough recruits, Leonard came to Orangeburg as an undersized player at his position. The lanky, 6-3 Leonard had the height and quickness to play linebacker in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, but weighed just 185 pounds and needed a year in the weight room and at the training table.

Leonard’s talent became apparent after just a handful of practices. There was talk early in Leonard’s freshman season about burning his redshirt year and getting him on the field.

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Eyeing defensive upgrade, FAMU has conference title aspirations

TALLAHASSE, Florida -- Florida A&M coach Alex Wood knows what it takes to improve. And it will only come with progress on defense.

The Rattlers gave up 39 or more points in four of their 10 games against FCS opponents. FAMU was somehow quite good against the pass, ranking fifth nationally, yet allowed 223 rushing yards per game (105th in the FCS).

“We’ll be exciting, colorful, explosive and play good defense,” Wood said. “To win a championship, you have to play really good defense.”

Wood is right. And just the fact that the Rattlers are discussing the prospects of winning a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference title is also a significant point. FAMU last won a MEAC championship in 2010, when it shared a piece of the title. Seven years and three coaching changes later, there is optimism for the future as FAMU tries to build on a 4-7 season.

FAMU returns its leading tailback and two top receivers.

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Just the facts: FAMU vs. Texas Southern

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The skinny: Florida A&M kicks off the college football season with a Week Zero game against SWAC foe Texas Southern at noon on Saturday. It’s the first time FAMU has opened its season at home since 2011 – coincidentally, that’s the last time FAMU had a winning season. The Rattlers came on strong last season with Ryan Stanley as the team’s starting quarterback. FAMU won four of its last seven games, but the season ended with a disappointing showing in the Florida Classic.

Florida A&M (4-7, 4-4 MEAC last season) vs. Texas Southern (4-7, 4-5 SWAC last season)
When/where: Noon, Saturday, Bragg Memorial Stadium
TV: ESPNU
Radio: 96.1 FM

Texas Southern looking to climb the ranks of the SWAC after going 4-7 last season. The Tigers lost their starting quarterback in the first game of the season. Jay Christophe is back now as a redshirt senior. Still Texas Southern lost some key pieces on defense and switched to a 3-4 this offseason.

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding this game in the HBCU sports world. It’s the first game of the year, and the only one that’ll be on national television during its noon time slot. Some fans have worried about the potential heat in Bragg, but FAMU’s administration has taken steps to provide some relief during what promises to be a sweltering game.

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Saturday's FAMU game could be a season opener to remember with a national spotlight

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta may be getting all the attention, but the fans on the Highest of Seven Hills know which game is really kicking off the college football season.

Florida A&M’s Week Zero game against Texas Southern – dubbed the Jake Gaither Classic – is the first Division I football game being played this season. Yes, it’s a contest between two teams that went 4-7 last season, but it’s the first taste of real college football anyone is going to get.

For FAMU fans, this is the best first look at the Rattlers in years.

I know it’s going to be hot – high noon near the end of August is no joke in Tallahassee – but this is a season opener, at home, on national television and it’s not against a powerhouse opponent.

FSU has its “greatest opener of all time” set for Sept. 2. FAMU has its “greatest opener of Milton Overton Jr.’s tenure as athletic director” set for Saturday.

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