2011 VOLLEYBALL MEDIA GUIDE - Southern University New Orleans

ATHLETICS STAFF & COACHESNAOMI WASHINGTONHead CoachELSTON KINGAthletic DirectorCoach Washington enters her second season as headcoach of the Lady Knights. SUNO is Coach Washington'sfirst head coaching assignment, but she wasted notime infusing a new sense of discipline and passion forthe game of volleyball to Lady Knights. Taking overonly two days before her first 2010 match, Coach Washingtonturned a 1-18 team (2009) into a 10-13 team which came within amatch of winning the 2010 GCAC title.VINCENT JOHNSON, Ph.D.Academic AdvisorCoach Washington enjoyed a productive career at California State University,Long Beach as a member of the 49ers’ women's volleyball team, a perennialNCAA powerhouse. In her senior season Long Beach State finished22-9 and atop the Big West at 12-4 earning them an automatic bid to theNCAA Volleyball Tournament. Coach Washington left as a two-timeAVCA All-American and two-time All-Big West selection. She led the49ers in kills and kill average as a senior.GILDA DAVISRegistrarShe has also enjoyed a professional volleyball career in Spain as well as inAzerbaijan. A native of New Orleans where she was a stand-out athlete atWarren Easton High School, Coach Washington graduated from LongBeach State with abachelor's degreein Interpersonal &OrganizationalCommunicationswith a minor inAfricana Studies.EDDIE FRANCISPublic Relations/Sports InformationLAJUAN MAGEEStatisticianBRITTANY TOUPSTrainer2

2011 SEASON OUTLOOKRETURNERS: Gabrielle Carter, Shametria Gonzales, and Zipporah WashingtonADDITIONS: Shenei Allen, Stephanie Bruhl, Arrianne Gray, Christal Kay Hollins, Jenny Pham, Sabrina Scott, andTrenice SmithLOSSES: Wynieka Anderson, Veronica Azubuike, Ashley Cagle, Blake DeLarge, and Tashawna HamptonThe Lady Knights enter the 2011 season with improvements on defense, passing, and blocking. The team promisesto pick up where it left off in the 2010 season with a collective resilience and tighter team chemistry. What startedas a disappointing season-opening loss to the University of New Orleans in 2010 later turned the team’s almost accomplishingthe improbable—winning the conference crown. It was at the GCAC Tournament that SUNO fell totheir area rival, Dillard, in the championship match.The returners play an important role on the 2011team. Gabrielle ‚Gabby‛ Carter, a sophomore setterwho was an All-GCAC selection, finished second inthe conference with 519 assists on the season whilecontributing 26 aces. Zipporah Washington, whoplayed on the inaugural team but missed the 2010season, showed promise as a freshman, and returnsmore focused with enhanced leadership skills. Finally,Shametria Gonzales returns to the team toprovide on-court energy and hustle to the mix.A key addition to the Lady Knights’ squad isChristal Kay Hollins, a freshman outside hitter/defensive specialist from Ursuline Academy in NewOrleans. Hollins was an all-district player whobrings championship experience having won the2009 state championship while at Ursuline Academy. Another key addition is 6’3‛ Sabrina Scott, a transfer fromSouthern University and A&M College. Scott brings instant defense with her height and upper body strength tocompliment her offensive skills.Key losses include GCAC Freshman of the Year Veronica Azubuike and all-conference selection Wyneika Anderson.2010 OVERALL STATISTICSType Sets Kills ErrorsTotalAttacksPct. Assists AcesServeErrorsRec.ErrorsDigsBlockSoloBlockAssistsBlockErrorTeam Overall 75 622 318 1,790 0.170 580 157 140 199 707 51 93 51Opponent Overall Unavail 556 235 1,476 0.217 458 121 122 92 632 45 109 42Conference Only 20 194 88 558 0.190 164 51 35 34 262 16 30 15OpponentConference OnlyUnavail 210 104 548 0.193 156 35 42 51 204 19 38 20NAIA Rankings: 24th in Service aces per game (2.09)3

2011 LADY KNIGHTS#8 SHENEI ALLENSetterSophomore ♦ 5’5‛Early Childhood EducationBaton Rouge, La.Belaire High School9# STEPHANIE BRUHLSetterFreshman ♦ 5’5‛General StudiesBerlin, GermanyMarie-Curie Gymnasium#4 GABRIELLE CARTERSetterSophomore ♦ 5’8‛Elementary EducationNew Orleans, La.O. Perry Walker High SchoolNotes: Strong serve, strong on-courtcommunicator, and great ball controlskills.Notes: Played a number of seasons inthe 4th top German League; playedtwice in the West German ChampionshipA-Juniors with a promotion fromthe 5th League to the 4th League.Notes: 2010 All-Conference selection;finished 2nd in the GCAC with 519assists (7.41 avg.); game-high 48 vs.Judson 9/23/10; 13 digs vs. Xavier10/12/10.Light on her feet, explosive on defense,very motivated player with good technicalskills.High school all-district selection ‘07, ‘08,and ‘09; Outstanding Player of theMonth, October ‘08; Outstanding Setter‘07, ‘08, and ‘09.#6 SHAMETRIA GONZALESDefensive SpecialistSophomore ♦ 5’2‛Social WorkDallas, Tex.God’s Academy#7 ARRIANNE GRAYMiddle BlockerSenior ♦ 5’10‛Business EntrepreneurshipNew Orleans, La.O. Perry Walker#2 CHRISTAL KAY HOLLINSOutside Hitter/Defensive SpecialistFreshman ♦ 5’3‛PsychologyNew Orleans, La.Ursuline AcademyNotes: Also member of the LadyKnights basketball team.First team all-district in high school.Shows great hustle on the court.Notes: Fast, strong jump server, efficientpasser, strong communicator, andsees the ball well.Notes: Played in the ’09 and ’10 statechampionship matches; helped Ursulineto an ‘09 victory; 2010 all-districtselection in high school; competed inthe Louisiana High School CoachesAssociation 2010 All-Star volleyballgame.4Outstanding jumper and excellent courtawareness.

2011 LADY KNIGHTS#1 JENNY PHAMDefensive SpecialistFreshman ♦ 5’2‛MathematicsNew Orleans, La.Sarah T. Reed High School#17 SABRINA SCOTTMiddle BlockerSophomore ♦ 6’3‛Social WorkTacoma, Wash.Mount Tahoma High School#3 TRENICE SMITHOutside HitterJunior ♦ 5’6‛Health Information ManagementNew Orleans, La.Warren Easton High SchoolNotes: Played on an undefeated districtchampionship team in ‘09; also memberof ‘08 district championship team.Three-year letterman in high school;Louisiana High School Athletic AssociationAcademic All-State Scholar Athlete.Notes: Also plays for the Lady Knightsbasketball team. Transferred fromSouthern University and A&M College.Athletic, strong blocker, upper bodystrength.Notes: Great leadership skills, excellenton-court communicator, known as amotivator, great ball placement.Plays great defense with digs and energeticcompetitor.#5 ZIPPORAH WASHINGTONOutside HitterSophomore ♦ 5’10‛Management Information SystemsNew Orleans, La.Edna Karr High SchoolNotes: Named MVP and selected to alldistrictteam in high school.Exemplary leader, strong passer, experiencedplayer, and saves the ballwell.5

2011 SCHEDULEDate Opponent Location TimeAUGUST27th Loyola University THE CASTLE 6:00 p.m.SEPTEMBER2nd at Concordia College-Selma Selma, Ala. 5:00 p.m.8th Alcorn State University THE CASTLE 6:00 p.m.9th Judson College THE CASTLE 5:00 p.m.14th University of New Orleans THE CASTLE 7:00 p.m.17th at Xavier University * New Orleans, La. 4:00 p.m.20th Dillard University * THE CASTLE 7:00 p.m.23rd vs. Fisk University (Talledega Tournament) * Talladega, Ala. 11:00 a.m.23rd vs. Talladega College (Talledega Tournament) * Talladega, Ala. 7:00 p.m.24th Vs. Edward Waters College (Talledega Tournament) * Talladega, Ala. 12:00 p.m.OCTOBER1st Concordia College-Selma THE CASTLE 7:00 p.m.7th vs. Edward Waters College (Dillard Tournament) * New Orleans, La. 8:00 a.m.7th vs. Philander Smith College (Dillard Tournament) * New Orleans, La. 5:00 p.m.8th vs. Tougaloo College (Dillard Tournament) * New Orleans, La. 8:00 a.m.11th University of Mobile THE CASTLE 7:00 p.m.14th Pensacola Christian College THE CASTLE 6:00 p.m.15th at Dillard University * New Orleans, La. 7:00 p.m.20th at Alcorn State University Alcorn, Miss. 7:00 p.m.22nd at University of Mobile Mobile, Ala. 3:00 p.m.25th at Spring Hill College Mobile, Ala. 7:00 p.m.27th at Judson College Marion, Ala. 5:00 p.m.29th Xavier University * THE CASTLE 6:00 p.m.31st Texas College THE CASTLE 2:00 p.m.NOVEMBER2nd at University of New Orleans New Orleans, La. 7:00 p.m.5th at Pensacola Christian College Pensacola, Fla. 5:00 p.m.11th & 12th Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Nashville, Tenn. TBA* Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Match