VOLLEYBALL
UAPB sweeps Central Baptist
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff earned its first victory of the season Tuesday as the Golden Lions swept Central Baptist College 25-17, 25-23, 25-13 at H.O. Clemmons Arena in Pine Bluff.
Britney Sahlmann led UAPB (1-3) with 22 assists and 3 aces, while Jade Sanlin had 12 digs and Taylor Sheppy added 10. Kaitlyn Hapke led the Golden Lions with nine kills and Kendalle Howard had eight.
Madelyn Black led Central Baptist College (3-1) with 15 assists, while Lenee Gibson had a team-high 15 digs. Kelsy Knox had eight kills while Emily Harp added six.
John Brown remains undefeated
John Brown University continued its undefeated season Tuesday by taking victories over Williams Baptist College and Southern Arkansas University in triangular action at Southerland-Mabee Arena in Walnut Ridge.
John Brown defeated Williams Baptist 25-17, 25-11, 25-23 in the first match. Bayli Reagan led the way with 12 kills, 6 digs, 2 aces and 2 blocks. Elizabeth Williams had 19 assists for John Brown, and Lindsey Davis led the team with three blocks. Molly Mingo led Williams Baptist with 12 assists, and Kayla Green had 11 digs and 2 aces.
The Golden Eagles also swept Southern Arkansas 25-22, 26-24, 25-23. Morgan Gross had 12 digs, 8 kills and 2 aces to lead John Brown. Elizabeth Williams had 13 assists to lead the Lady Muleriders, while Jessica Meyer had 7 kills and Carly McKinney had 4 aces.
SOFTBALL
Lyon hires new assistant
Jessica Mattia, who served as an assistant coach at Delaware State University for three seasons, was named an assistant coach and pitching coach at Lyon College on Tuesday.
Mattia, who pitched collegiately at Virginia State University and was a three-time All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association co-Pitcher of the Year, helped lead Delaware State to two consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Division championships.
CROSS COUNTRY
UA men 4th, women 12th in preseason poll
The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville men’s and women’s teams will start the season ranked in the top 15, according to USTFCCCA preseason national coaches polls released Tuesday. The Arkansas men ranked fourth in the country, just behind Northern Arizona, Stanford and Syracuse. The Razorbacks’ last preseason top-four appearance was in 2006, when they opened at No. 2. The Arkansas women came in at No. 12 and are the highest-ranked SEC team in the poll. Colorado tops the women’s poll, followed by Oregon, Michigan, New Mexico and Stanford. The men’s and women’s teams start their seasons Friday at the Cowboy Duals in Stillwater, Okla.
WOMEN’S GOLF
Arkansas Tech picked to win GAC
Arkansas Tech received six of nine first-place votes Tuesday to finish as the preseason favorite to win the Great American Conference.
The Golden Suns, who won four tournaments last season on their way to a third consecutive conference championship and won an NCAA Division II Super Regional, finished with 62 points in the preseason poll. Southwestern Oklahoma State finished second after receiving two first-place votes and 55 points. Henderson State received one first-place vote and had 54 points to finish third in the poll, followed by Arkansas-Monticello (40 points) and Oklahoma Baptist (33 points).
Southern Arkansas had 25 points to finish seventh, while Harding finished with 12 points to come in ninth.
ATHLETICS
Five chosen for UAM Hall of Fame
Four All-Americans and an Arkansas high school coaching legend have been selected for induction to the University of Arkansas at Monticello Sports Hall of Fame.
Kayla Jackson (softball), Carolyn Boatman (basketball), football players Tommy Graf and Melvin Patrick, as well as the late Dave Williams will be inducted at a banquet Oct. 19 in Monticello. Longtime faculty athletic representative Becky Phillips and her husband, Keith, also will be recognized for their support of the university’s athletics program.
Jackson was selected in her first year of eligibility. Williams, who served as head football coach and athletic director at Pocahontas High School from 1981-2013, played for Johnny “Red” Parker at Arkansas A&M in the early 1960s and was a 2017 inductee to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling the UAM athletics department at (870) 460-1058.