UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
ALBANY STATE, AGAIN: Albany State won its fifth straight SIAC women's volleyball championship
and
earned another trip to the NCAA Regionals by defeating favorite
Paine twice in the double-elimination
conference tournament. The Lady Rams, after losing a tough match to Paine in
the semifinals, bounced back to get six straight wins to take the title. In
the finals, ASU won 30-18, 30-25 and 30-22 to force another
three-game set. ASU prevailed in those games 30-23, 30-24 and
32-30. ASU was lead by setter Amber Davis and
Paris Straughter who was tournament MVP. Albany State advances to
the NCAA Div. II South Central regional and is seeded
eighth and will play at No. 1 seed North Alabama (35-1)
Thursday, Nov. 17.
19th SIAC Volleyball All-Tournament Team
Paris Straughter, Albany State
Deborah Jones, Fort Valley State
Stephanie Johnican, Kentucky State
Keisha Lucette, Paine
Krystel Rolle, Benedict
Amber Davis, Albany State
MVP: Paris Straughter, Albany State
SIX STRAIGHT FOR AA&M: With a 3-1 victory in the title game
(30-32, 30-12, 30-18, 30-22), the 
Alabama
A&M Lady Bulldogs claimed their sixth consecutive
SWAC Women's Volleyball Championship with a
win over the Grambling State Lady Tigers.
Alexandria Brazelton, named 2005 SWAC Tournament
Most Valuable Player, led the Lady Bulldogs with 18 kills, seven digs
and two blocks. All-Tournament member Brittani
Lewis finished with 13 kills, two aces, 10
digs and five blocks while Tameeka Thompson had 10 kills
and 16 digs. Lacey Cormier also named all-Tournament led
the Lady Tigers with 10 kills and four blocks. The tournament
victory pushed the Lady Bulldogs mark in the SWAC Tournament
to 23-0.
2005 SWAC All-Tournament Team
Shinician Danielly, DS, Jackson State
Shatara Baydak, OH, Mississippi Valley State
Sharla Cannon, OH, Prairie View A&M
Natasha Wilmore, MB, Grambling State
Brittani Lewis, MB, Alabama A&M
Lacey Cormier', OH, Grambling State
MVP: Alexandria Brazelton, OH, Alabama A&M
CIAA VB CHAMPS HEAD NORTH: After winning back-to-back CIAA Women's Volleyball Championships, North Carolina Central now prepares for the school's second-ever postseason appearance at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championship on Nov. 17-19, hosted by Lock Haven University (Pa.). NCCU (29-13) will challenge the host team and No. 1 seed Lock Haven in first round action on Thursday (Nov. 17) at 7:30 p.m. at Thomas Field House. Lock Haven, also nicknamed the Lady Eagles, boasts an overall record of 30-5. NCCU also faced Lock Haven in its only other playoff match last year, losing to the host 3-0 (30-22, 30-19, 30-13).
SWAC VB HONORS: In a poll voted on among the conference's head coaches and sports information contacts, Mississippi Valley State outside hitter Ashley Robinson claimed top honors as the SWAC Player of the Year and leading vote getter. SWAC Freshman of the Year went to Brittani Lewis of Alabama A&M. Prairie View's Crystal Stigler (5-9, Jr., OH, Houston, TX) was tabbed Newcomer of the Year by a narrow margin. Shincian Danielly (5-4, Sr., Toney, AL) of Jackson State was named the conference's Libero of the Year.
FIRST TEAM
Lacey Cormier', OH, Grambling State; Ashley Robinson, OH,
Mississippi Valley State; Natasha Wilmore, MB, Grambling State;
Falon Holinaty, MB, Mississippi Valley State; Jolene Brennan, S,
Mississippi Valley State; Alyssa Knaus, DS, Mississippi Valley State
© 2005 Azeez Communications, Inc.