FOOTBALL
Former Harding player dies
Former Harding linebacker Dequan Raindle died Monday in Corsicana, Texas, the school announced Tuesday. He was 21. Raindle transferred to Harding from Blinn College in Brenham, Texas, in January and was with the football team through the spring semester. “I am at a loss for words,” Harding Coach Ronnie Huckeba said in a statement. “Dequan Raindle was one of the happiest, most positive people I have ever been around in my life. We are praying for Dequan and his friends and family.” Corsicana Police Chief Randy Bratton told the Corsicana Daily Sun that Raindle was found unresponsive Monday at about 9 p.m. when family members tried to wake him up for his nighttime job. Medical personnel transported Raindle to Navarro Regional Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Bratton said investigators found no signs of foul play. An autopsy is pending.
VOLLEYBALL
Arkansas Tech picked to win GAC
Arkansas Tech was picked by Great American Conference coaches to win the league title.
The Golden Suns received 11 of the 12 first-place votes. Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Harding received the other first-place vote.
Arkansas Tech, which returns Madison Nagel, last year’s GAC freshman of the year, defensive player of the year and tournament MVP, won its third league championship in 2014.
Rounding out the poll were Southern Nazarene, Oklahoma Baptist, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Ouachita Baptist, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Southern Arkansas, Southwestern Oklahoma State, East Central (Okla.), Arkansas-Monticello and Henderson State.
SWIMMING
UALR announces schedule
UALR released its 2015-2016 schedule Tuesday, which includes four meets at the Donaghey Aquatic Center in Little Rock.
The Trojans’ first meet of the season will be at the North Texas Relays on Oct. 2 where they’ll face Arkansas, North Texas, Tulane, Houston and SMU. UALR comes home to host a meet Oct. 10 against Saint Louis and Henderson State.
Following their first home meet, the Trojans will travel to Pensacola, Fla., to take on Air Force, Tulane and West Florida on Oct. 16-17. After a three-week break, UALR faces its first Missouri Valley Conference opponent at Evansville on Nov. 7.
UALR hosts its annual Christmas Invitational on Dec. 3-5 and will host Vanderbilt on Dec. 30.
The team’s final home meet of the season will be Jan. 16 against Southern Illinois, North Texas and Ouachita Baptist. The Trojans wrap up the season Feb. 17-20 at the Missouri Valley Championships in Carbondale, Ill.