NEW ORLEANS, La. –  The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) launched a new slate of championship logos with design by Phoenix Design Works. The new championship logos extend the HBCUAC brand and galvanize fan enthusiasm.

“We are so happy to reveal our new championship logos, and we are thrilled to be working with our friends at Phoenix to extend our brand into our championships,” said Dr. Kiki Baker Barnes, HBCU Athletic Conference Commissioner. “Amy, Jamie, and everyone at Phoenix have been wonderful to work with, and Phoenix has been an essential branding partner for us. From strategic development to deploying the brand across our championships, we are confident the HBCU Athletic Conference brand will connect with our fan base and member schools.”

The logos feature the new conference branding, pay tribute to the new conference trophy design, and are modified to accommodate each sport. HBCU Athletic Conference Championship branding will be featured in events, online, and apparel.

“Commissioner Barnes, Dani, and the entire HBCU Athletic Conference team have been amazing to work with,” said Amy Skiles, Phoenix Design Works SVP Business Development, Client Service. “The HBCU Athletic Conference is such a wonderful team, and together, I believe we have been able to create some genuinely innovative work for the conference. We’re grateful for the experience of working with such a wonderful group!”

The HBCUAC sponsors championships for six sports, with hopes to increase that number as more member schools are added.

”It is an honor to work with Commissioner Barnes, Dani, and the HBCU,” said Jamie Skiles, Phoenix Design Works President & Creative Director. “Kiki and Dani are both wonderful team leaders, and the HBCU Athletic Conference is such a smart and talented group; it is a joy to work with them to create the new Championships branding. Working together to build the new Championships branding program has led to a family of new brand assets that will serve the conference for years to come.”

Phoenix has long been a champion of HBCU schools and HBCU principles and aspirations, and the work they do aligns with the mission and vision of the HBCUAC.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to be of service to the HBCU Athletic Conference,” continued Jamie Skiles. “The HBCUAC is doing good work, important work. It is our privilege to work with Kiki, Dani and the HBCU team. I would like to extend our thanks and gratitude to Kiki, Dani and all our friends at the HBCUAC for having us on your team.”

For media inquiries, contact Dani Wright at communications@hbcuac.org or (833) 504-4228 x2.

The post HBCUAC reveals to championship logos with design by Phoenix Design Works appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

KINGSPORT, Tenn. – For the first time in the 2024-25 season, the No. 6 Freed-Hardeman University Lions eclipsed the century mark in a 106-68 rout of the Reinhardt (Ga.) University Eagles to close out The Show 2024.

The Lions (11-1) flooded the paint to start the matchup with Jayson Nixon, Makai Vassell, and Geraldo Lane all hitting jumpers to start the game 6-0. In a two-minute span, Peyton Law managed six points of his own to set FHU’s lead at 14-6 with 15:35 remaining in the opening half. Adding even more separation, the Lions went on a nine-point run with Phil Horton’s free throws putting the Lions on top 23-8 with 11:37 before intermission. Late in the half, the Eagles would begin to find their stroke, eventually pulling within two possessions before Ryley McClaran’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer – the only of the half for FHU – giving the Lions a 46-35 halftime lead.

Beginning the second frame the same way the ended the first, the Lions kept momentum going with McClaran scoring five points in the first two minutes. Reinhardt (5-5) strung together a good run by out-scoring Freed-Hardeman 11-2 with a steal and a score at 11:37 making the FHU lead 66-52. Making offensive waves of their own, the Lions would go on three different 7-0 runs down the stretch with Brian Carter’s layup at 1:58 giving the Lions triple digits. Carter knocked down a triple for FHU’s final points in the 106-68 victory.

The Lions dominated nearly every statistical category, shooting 57% to Reinhardt’s 37% while out-rebounding the Eagles 48-25.

Peyton Law continued his white-hot start of the season by dropping 26 points to continue his streak of 20+ point games. Now with four straight 20+ point games, Law has met the mark eight times in 12 games his season.

Joining Law with double-figures were Phil Horton and Makai Vassell – both tallying 15 points. Brian Carter netted 11 points wile Blake Dean and Ryley McClaran each connected for 10. Law had his third double-double of the season with a game-high 11 rebounds while Horton led with four steals.

The Lions now take a well-deserved break before returning to Henderson to face Tougaloo (Miss.) College on December 10 at 6 p.m.

The post Freed-Hardeman hangs 106 on Reinhardt in blowout win appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A list of 43 student-athletes from across the nation have been nominated for the 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II College Football Player of the Year.

A total of nine nominees hail from Super Region 1, 12 from Super Region 2, 11 from Super Region 3 and 11 from Super Region 4.

Central Missouri’s Zach Zebrowski, the 2023 Hill recipient and a 2024 nominee from Super Region 3 could become the fifth repeat winner in award history. Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long, Valdosta State quarterback Sammy Edwards and Central Washington safety Tanner Volk return after reaching the finalist stage. Running back Jada Byers, a 2022 finalist from Virginia Union, also appears on the initial ballot.

The sports information directors at the 159 NCAA Division II football-playing institutions nominate and vote on the award. The 43 initial candidates will be placed on regional ballots and the top two players from each of the four NCAA regions will advance to the national ballot when regional voting concludes on Monday, December 2.

The sports information directors at their respective schools initially nominate candidates. The SIDs in those Super Regions vote for their top five candidates. The winner is then determined in a nationwide vote of the Division II sports information directors.

The group of 43 candidates includes 16 quarterbacks, nine running backs, six wide receivers, four defensive linemen, three defensive backs, two linebackers, a fullback, a return specialist and a kicker.

The list features 24 seniors, 17 juniors and two sophomores.

The winner of the 2024 award will be announced on Friday, December 20.

The Hill Trophy is named for the late Harlon Hill – the former University of North Alabama standout – who excelled with the Lions from 1950-53 before going on to fame in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears.

The post 43 players nominated for 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

BOSSIER CITY, La. – The championship match of the 2024 Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) Volleyball Championship is set. Top seed Talladega College and No. 2 seed Dillard University will battle for the title at noon on Wednesday.

NO. 1 TALLADEGA 3, NO. 4 PHILANDER SMITH 0   Boxscore
Talladega College volleyball players Franchesca Rivas and Josephine Gates provided double-digit kill performances to send the Tornadoes to the championship for the second consecutive season with a sweep over Philander Smith University (25-18, 25-22, 25-18).

Rivas recorded 15 kills in 38 attempts and added six digs and two block assists. Gates contributed 10 kills and eight total blocks. Giovana Costarelli nearly recorded a double-double with 19 assists and eight digs. Nuria Santos added 15 assists and six digs. Briyith Echeverri led all defenders with 21 digs.

Two kills by Re’na Ashley and a service ace by Stella Lukaszuk gave Talladega a five-point lead early in the first set and it didn’t relinquish it. The Tornadoes put down 15 kills in 36 attempts while Philander Smith had 10 but made eight attack errors in 37 attempts. Gates clinched the first set with a kill. Talladega did endure a scary moment as Kortni Johnson and Taquoia Rounds collided going after a ball and did not return to the game.

With Talladega having to shake up its rotation, Philander Smith got a jump on them in the second set. Zarea Winn got a kill and a block and Essence Wren got a kill to put the Panthers ahead 11-6. After a timeout, the Tornadoes regrouped. Gates, Ashley and Rivas got kills to cut the margin to 11-10.

Philander Smith called a timeout leading to another momentum shift. Two kills by Winn, one by Sanders and a pair of errors by Talladega gave the Panthers a 16-11 lead. The lead stayed intact until Ashley got a kill and Gates got a block to give Talladega a 21-20 lead. The Panthers tied it with an attack error by the Tornadoes. Rivas put down two kills and Gates one to take the set.

The Tornadoes took control of the third set with a five-point run. Rivas got a kill and Gates and Costarelli and Dyani Steward teamed up for three blocks to increase their advantage to 12-7. It lead by as many as eight. Winn got a kill and teamed up with Antonisha Whitney for a block to cut the margin to four. Kills by Rivas and Ashley and two attack errors by Philander Smith put the Tornadoes up by eight.

The Panthers finish the season 21-7. Sanders recorded 10 kills and seven digs. Winn notched eight kills, three digs and three total blocks. Wren posted a double-double with 23 assists and 18 digs. Christlove Lauture put up 12 digs.

NO. 2 DILLARD 3, NO. 3 FISK 0 Boxscore
Dillard University volleyball players Vanae Sapp recorded a double-double and Gabrielle Washington led a strong front row defense to lead the Bleu Devils to a sweep over Fisk University (25-19, 25-15, 25-18).

Along with a spot in the championship match the victory gives Dillard the conference’s second automatic berth to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Volleyball Championship Opening Round. Talladega gained the other automatic berth by winning the regular season title.

Sapp tallied 13 kills, 15 digs and five service aces. Cadence Thomas followed with eight kills in 19 attempts. Washington contributed to six blocks with two solo and put down five kills. The Bleu Devils blocked seven attacks from the Bulldogs and out-hit them .327 to .118. Dillard put down 42 kills and only made eight errors in 104 attack attempts. The Bulldogs recorded 32 kills but made 19 errors in 110 attempts.

The Bleu Devils (19-8) pulled out to a 10-1 lead in the first set and didn’t look back. Sapp recorded two kills and four service aces. Fisk didn’t get closer than five. Washington secured the first set with a kill. Dillard outhit Fisk .216 to .132 in the first set.

Fisk briefly held the lead in the second set on kills by Sydney Willis and Trinity Britt. Kills by Thomas, Sapp and Sara Da Silva opened a seven-point lead for Dillard. The Bulldogs didn’t have an answer. Kills by Thomas and Da Silva opened up a double-digit advantage for the Bleu Devils.

Sapp scored two kills and Nya St. Cyr one to give Dillard a four-point lead in the third set. The Bulldogs weren’t able to put more than two points together. Two kills by Neveah Bax and one from Thomas, put the Bleu Devils in striking distance of clinching the match. Thomas, Da Silva, St. Cyr and Sapp closed it out for Dillard, which is making their second appearance in the finals in the last three years.

Tyramae Fautanu recorded 19 assists and four digs. Nanyelis Moreno followed with 17 assists, five digs and two service aces. Trenity Pender and Jasmyne Mumphrey posted double-digit dig performances with 13 and 12, respectively.

Fisk finished the season 23-16. Willis led the attack with 13 kills. Reagan Jones followed with eight and contributed eight digs. Britt recorded a double-double with 23 assists and 14 digs. Nialah Gupton provided 14 digs and three assists.

The post Talladega, Dillard advance to HBCUAC championship match appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

NEW ORLEANS – Fisk University volleyball player Reagan Jones headlines the All-Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference Teams as the 2024 Player of the Year, as the teams were announced by the conference on Friday. The teams and Player of the Year awards were determined by the conference’s head volleyball coaches. Jones led the HBCUAC with 422 kills and 3.46 per set. She ranks 14th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in total kills. During the 12-week season, Jones garnered five Attacker of the Week awards. She recorded double-digit kills in 25 matches. Her 488 points leads the conference and is ninth in the nation. Along with earning Player of the Year, Jones was selected as Attacker and Newcomer of the Year.

Also representing Fisk on the first team was Trinity Britt, who led the HBCUAC with 990 assists and 8.25 per set, Nialah Gupton, the conference leader with 515 digs; and Sydney Willis, who leads the conference with 121 total blocks. La’Niyah Lumpkin and Laila Esters earned All-HBCUAC Second Team selections.

The two-time defending conference champion Talladega College also had a strong presence with seven selections, including the Defender of the Year Briyith Echeverri, and the Setter of the Year Giovana Costarelli. Echeverri ranked second in the conference with 447 digs. She was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and a four-time Defender of the Week. Echeverri also recorded her 1,000th career dig. Costarelli set for the top attacking team in the conference with 11.72 kills per set. Her 5.23 assists per set ranked sixth in the conference. Costarelli surpassed 1,000 career assists and earned two Setter of the Week awards.

Joining Echeverri and Costarelli on the first team were Franchesca Rivas and Re’na Ashley. Kortni Johnson, Marcelly Perez, and Josephine Gates earned All-HBCUAC Second Team.

The runner-up Dillard University earned six selections, with three on the First Team. Cadence Thomas ranked third in the HBCUAC with a .311 hitting percentage. She ranked in the top 10 with 2.18 kills per set, 53 block assists, 61 total blocks, and 0.84 blocks per set. Vanae Sapp placed fourth in the conference with 2.51 kills per set and four points per set. She ranked in the top 10 with 198 kills, 6.96 attacks per set, and 2.90 digs per set. Sara Da Silva ranked eighth in the HBCUAC with a .249 hitting percentage. She ranked in the top 10 with 47 block assists and 0.77 blocks per set. Gabrielle Washington, Nanyelis Moreno, and Tyramae Fautanu earned All-HBCU Second Team.

Philander Smith University had two First Team selections with Zarea Winn and Essence Wren. Southern University at New Orleans earned one selection in Armoni Harris.

Ava Cameron of Stillman College earned Freshman of the Year and All-HBCUAC Second Team. She ranked third in the conference with 22 solo blocks and in the top 20 with 31 block assists, 53 total blocks, and 0.65 blocks per set.

Also earning Second Team selections were Kiah Rucker and Christlove Lauture from Philander Smith, Emily Powell from Stillman, Kaliyah Shavers from Tougaloo College, and Kamaria Murray from Oakwood University.

Oakwood’s Cameryn Bucknor, Wiley University’s Shyla Starks, SUNO’s Alaina Obianoze, and Tougaloo’s Ke’Ira Collier earned Honorable Mentions.

Fisk head coach Jessica Enderle earned HBCUAC Coach of the Year. She led the Lady Bulldogs to 22 wins and a 13-2 record in conference play. After finishing as tournament runner-up last season, Fisk contended for the regular season title until the final week of the regular season.

Talladega College’s Kyle Liechti won HBCUAC Assistant Coach of the Year. He helped head coach LaShaunda Spurgeon guide the Tornadoes to their second straight conference title and an automatic berth to the NAIA Volleyball Championship Opening Round.

The award winners will be honored during the 2024 HBCUAC Volleyball Championship reception on Sunday. Matches get underway on Monday at Bossier Parish Community College’s Billy Montgomery Gymnasium. The championship is hosted by the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.

The post Fisk’s Jones named HBCUAC Player of the Year; All-HBCUAC Teams revealed appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

CHARLOTTE – The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA®), the nation’s oldest historically black conference, held its annual fall Board of Directors meeting June 4 & 5 in Raleigh, North Carolina, which was attended by CIAA Presidents & Chancellors along with staff and selected partners.

After reviewing the proposals the Board awarded the 2025-27 CIAA football championships to the Durham Sports Commission. Bids were also submitted by the cities of Charlotte, NC and Salem, VA. The championship will be hosted by the Durham Sports Commission and the Durham County Memorial Stadium (DCMS) will serve as the event’s selected venue.

The meeting resulted in the approval of many exciting initiatives to strengthen the future of the CIAA.

More exciting news includes: 

CIAA Tournament 2027 and Beyond – The Board agreed to initiate the CIAA Men’s and Women’s basketball tournament  bidding process in January of 2025 for the 2027 tournament and beyond.  The conference will announce the selected site before the 2026 tournament, in keeping with its standard practice.  Baltimore has positioned themselves as strong tournament host, as indicated by the upward trajectory of its economic impact during tournament week.  The economic impact over the past three years currently stands at $81.7M.

BCHOF Legacy Bowl (CIAA/SIAC) – The Board agreed in collaboration with the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) that the CIAA/SIAC football champions will be invited to play in the NFL/BCHOF annually beginning in 2025 as part of the partnership. This will take place in lieu of the previously proposed 0-week game between CIAA/SIAC.

Women’s Flag Football HBCU League – The conference will explore Women’s Flag football as a sponsored championship. The Board supports the growth of flag football and agreed that each institution interested should work directly with the conference regarding its interest and ability to secure funds through the NFL/RCX/NCAA to support their participation. The conference will poll membership for interest. The conference will continue to evaluate other sports interests, such as soccer, for consideration.

Football Conference Realignment –The Board agreed that the CIAA will rank football teams from 1-12, with the two top teams advancing to the conference football championships, effective 2024. There will no longer be northern and southern division winners.

The conference will focus on growing the football championship through its television exposure and marketing strategies to grow the championship.

Budget and Finance – The audit review timeline was reviewed and accepted.  The conference audit will begin in September.

Additionally, the FY25 adjusted budget was approved and the Board agreed that the investment committee will review the investment policy for future contributions to identify long term strategies to grow the conference, reduce financial exposure for its members and to support its membership through scholarships and unrestricted funds for its athletic programs. .

The post 2024 CIAA Board of Directors spring meeting recap appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Awards Committee and Small College Basketball are extremely excited to announce the Bevo Francis Top 100 Watch List for the 2023-24 season. Once again this year, the Top 100 Watch List consists of some of the top players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, USCAA and NCCAA. John McCarthy spoke about this years Top 100 list.

Congratulations to all of the 100 players on the Bevo Francis Award Watch List,” McCarthy said. “This is a very elite list of players, as there are only 100 players listed out of approximately 13,000 – 16,000 players that are playing at the various levels of small college basketball. While the Bevo Francis Award is ultimately an individual award, team success is a big component, so these players have helped their teams to tremendous success thus far this season.”

The Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Considerations will be season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements. This is an incredibly prestigious award, as this award will only be given to one player within Small College Basketball per season.

2024 marks the eighth year of the Bevo Francis Award. Past winners include Dominez Burnett of Davenport University in 2016, Justin Pitts of Northwest Missouri State University in 2017, Emanuel Terry of Lincoln Memorial University in 2018, Aston Francis of Wheaton College in 2019, Kyle Mangas of Indiana Wesleyan University in 2020 and Trevor Hudgins of Northwest Missouri State University in 2022. In 2023, RJ Sunahara of Nova Southeastern was named the winner of the Bevo Francis Award. The award was not presented during the 2021 season. John McCarthy added this about the Bevo Francis Award:

“The Bevo Francis Award is the most prestigious award that is given to a player that has the finest overall season, based on our criteria, in a single season,” McCarthy said. “Importantly, I am very grateful to our National Awards Committee for their tremendous insight and information.”

On February 15, the list will be reduced to the Top 50 players. One month later on March 15, the Top 25 players will be announced. The finalists and Bevo Francis Award winner announcement release date is TBD. More information will be available in the coming months.

The Bevo Francis Awards Committee consists of the following coaches: Gary Stewart – Stevenson (Md.), Chris Briggs – Georgetown (Ky.), Bill Dreikosen – Rocky Mountain (Mont.), Mark Berokoff – Oklahoma City, Mike Donnelly – Florida Southern, Sam Hargraves – Olivet (Mich.), Richard Westerlund – Great Lakes Christian, Chase Tiechmann – Florida College, Aaron Siebenthall – Ottawa (Kan.), Mark Vanderslice – USC – Aiken, Matt O’Brien – Southwestern (KS), Chris Wright – Langston (OK), Ben Thompson – Emory & Henry, Justin Leslie – Midwestern State, Raul Placeres – Maryville College (TN), Chris Martin – Loras (IA), John Lamanna – Whitman (WA), Brian Miller – MSOE, Justin Downer – Point Loma Nazarene.

The post 2024 Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List announced appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana announced Tuesday 20 inductees, including two teams, to the inaugural XULA Athletic Hall of Fame.

Inductees will be honored Nov. 3 during a 6 p.m. CDT banquet in the third-floor ballroom of XULA’s University Center. Inductees also will be recognized during XULA’s homecoming basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center the afternoon of Nov. 5.

Inductees or their survivors must contact Nathan Cochran — XULA’s executive director of athletics and recreation — at (504) 520-7329 or ncochran@xula.edu to confirm their participation in the November events.

The inductees are:
•  Marino Casem (football)
•  Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton (men’s basketball)
•  Cassee Davis (women’s basketball)
•  Herb Douglas (men’s track and field)
•  Alvin “Bo” Dukes (men’s basketball)
•  Sister Grace Mary Flickinger (administrator)
•  Dr. Norman C. Francis (administrator)
•  Bernard Griffith (men’s basketball)
•  Janice Joseph-Richard (women’s basketball)
•  Kenny Loyd (men’s basketball)
•  Jimmie McDaniel (men’s tennis)
•  Henrietta Mitchell (women’s basketball)
•  Alfred Priestley (football coach)
•  Anthony Rachal (administrator)
•  Bruce Seals (men’s basketball)
•  Team, 1940-41 men’s basketball
— Joseph Connor
— Frank Crozier
— Leonidas Epps
— Oscar Green
— James Hall
— Henry Harris
— Wince King
— Ben Mourning
— Charles Perkins
— Edgar Reeves
— Eugene Saffold
— Allen Summers
— Lucius Thomas
— Eldridge Williams
— Oliver Williams
— Coach Giles Wright
•  Team, 1942 men’s track and field 440-yard relay
— Herb Douglas
— William Morton
— Clarence Doak
— Howard Mitchell
•  Otis Washington (football, baseball)
•  Donald “Slick” Watts (men’s basketball)
•  Kay Williams (women’s basketball)

A committee selected the inductees based on XULA and post-XULA accomplishments.
Future nominees can be submitted in two ways:
•  Online by clicking here
•  A letter of nomination emphasizing a candidate’s qualifications sent to Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation, Xavier University of Louisiana, 1 Drexel Drive, Box 92, New Orleans, LA 70125

The post XULA announces inaugural Athletic Hall of Fame inductees appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

The post NCCAA unveils new brand identity appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Southeastern University Fire have secured a spot as one of only four teams remaining in the NAIA with a come-from-behind 4-2 victory over the No. 6 seeded Indiana Wesleyan in game four of the World Series.

In the bottom of the third, a walk and an error allowed a Wildcat double to bring home the first two runs of the contest.

Three innings later, the Fire’s offensive silence was broken after a single by Jamie Mead and a walk by Haleigh Harrell set up an RBI situation for Erica Stahl. Stahl continued her clutch streak, lining a single into center field and scoring Mead to cut the deficit in half. Ashley Ellison would immediately follow it up with a two-run double into right field, giving her team the 3-2 lead.

“I just wanted to get a good pitch, hit it hard, and score the runs because I knew our pitching staff would be able to hold the lead,” Ellison said

Chapel Cunningham added one more insurance run in the sixth with a single up the middle, concluding the four run inning.

A groundout, popout, and strikeout by Sekinger in the bottom of the seventh secured the Fire victory and a spot in the final four.

Sekinger advanced to 25-6 on the season with a complete game, allowing just five hits and two earned runs and striking out seven Wildcat hitters.

“I felt really strong on the mound, especially with my changeup, and I knew my team had my back the whole time and they pulled through,” Skinner said

The Fire will now play tomorrow at 4 p.m. against the winner of Freed-Hardeman and Science and Arts.

The post Another upset by the Fire lands a spot in the Final Four appeared first on Southeast Sports Net.