Sept. 15, 2011

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

TOURNAMENT WEB PAGE

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- After three weeks of travelling to tournaments, Bethune-Cookman gets to host its own affair Sept. 16-18 at the Holiday Inn Resort Invitational in historic Moore Gymnasium.

B-CU (4-6) is coming off a successful weekend at the Clarion Classic, sharing championship honors with host Stetson and Wofford with a 2-1 record. B-CU's Krysta Gardner and Janeen Davis were named to the all-tournament team.

LADY WILDCAT NOTES: Gardner was named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player of the week. The junior had a 21 kill 20-dig night against Stetson and posted 28 kills in the Wofford victory. The 28 kills is the most in the MEAC this season and second-highest in BCU history … Gardner (4.24 kills per set) and Davis (4.11) are 1-2 in the MEAC in kills; Davis is third in hitting percentage (.258), Gardner seventh in service aces (.037), Jennifer Jimenez sixth in digs (3.55) and Frances Rodriguez eighth in assists (5.55).

THE TOURNAMENT FIELD:

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (0-7) --  The Owls' early-season schedule has included Clemson, Florida, Jacksonville, Tulane and Pittsburgh. Thacilli Pereira is FAU's leading scorer with a 1.96 kill per set clip.

HAMPTON (1-5) -- The Pirates were in Arizona last weekend at the Fiesta Bowl tournament. Sheileen Pagan is averaging 2.14 kills per set.

SAMFORD (9-1) -- The Bulldogs are off to an impressive start – the only loss is to Georgia and victories have come against Georgia Tech and Alabama. Elizabeth Neisler (3.84 kills per set) and Lauren Hutchinson (3.59) pace the offense while Casey Garvey is averaging 11.78 assists per set.

SAVANNAH STATE (0-9) -- Bianca Helton leads the Tigers with a 1.08 kill per set average.

STETSON (2-4) -- The Hatters have already matched their 2010 win total after sharing the Clarion Classic championship with B-CU and Wofford last weekend. Junior setter Kelli Carneal and sophomore outside hitter Kaley Melville were all-tournament selections.