 |
|
Alabama A&M Bulldogs Advance to Championship Game in SWAC Volleyball TournamentNovember 11, 2000Pine Bluff, Ark. - Alabama A&M advanced to the championship game of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) double-elimination Volleyball tournament with wins over Grambling, Alabama State and Prairie View A&M Friday. The Bulldogs knocked defending champ Prairie View A&M into the losers bracket with a 3-0 semi-final win. All-SWAC performers Phatty Arbuckle, De'Anna Hines and Monica Thompson led the A&M charge. Arbuckle posted a team high 24 kills and 13 digs, setting her eighth double-double on the year. Hines had nine kills and five blocks while Thompson had 16 kills and 12 digs for her sixth double-double. Setter Nikki Tilton continued with her bid for All-Tournament honors as she had 60 assists, 11 digs and three blocks.Alabama A&M, now 30-2, posted scores of 15-3, 15-10, 16-14 making this their fifth consecutive and 27th overall 3-0 win. In the quarterfinals, the Bulldogs defeated Alabama State 3-0 with scores of 15-5, 15-8, 15-10. Phatty Arbuckle's 17 kills, Monica Thompson's 10 digs and De'Anna Hines' five blocks were among the game's highlights. Nikki Tilton put in a tremendous performance with 40 assists, 10 digs, and four blocks, charting her third double-double of the season. In Friday's opening round, A&M defeated Grambling 3-0 with scores of 15-8, 15-5, 15-8. Hines led the team with 11 kills and four blocks while Thompson tossed in 10 kills, nine digs and two blocks. Tilton posted 30 assists with three digs, three aces and four blocks. The Bulldogs take on the winner of the Prairie View A&M - Alcorn State game. This will be the first championship match for Alabama A&M since joining the SWAC in 1998. In other competition on the day, Texas Southern, Jackson State, Southern, Mississippi Valley, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, and Alabama State bowed out of the tournament.
|
