Wallace State athletics: Volleyball, Men’s Golf and Cross Country updates

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State’s volleyball team is inching closer to a 10^th consecutive Alabama Community College (ACCC) regular season title after sweeping Snead State, 25-21, 25-20, 25-10, at Tom Drake Coliseum on Wednesday night.
Wallace State improved to 22-6 overall and 12-0 in ACCC action and is close to securing the top seed for next month’s conference tournament. The Lions have won eight straight tournament titles.
“Snead State played us tough. We made uncharacteristic mistakes early because of Snead State’s aggressiveness. We settled in once we started handling the ball better,” said Wallace State coach Randy Daniel. “We’ve got to continue to fight and get better each match.”
Sophomore Abby Borden posted 33 assists and 11 digs for Wallace State, a day after earning ACCC Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The setter from Arab has compiled a conference-best 982 assists.
Sophomore Kaylee Maddox posted 16 kills and nine digs for Wallace State, Alex Wiggins had 10 kills and four digs off the bench, Emily Wilson finished with 18 digs, Morgan Kyles had nine digs and Kati Thomas contributed six kills and four digs.
“Alex Wiggins provided a big lift for us. She doesn’t have the best practice habits, but she turns it up a notch in the matches. She’s a great serve/receive player and growing as a freshman,” Daniel said.
In his 11^th season at Wallace State, Daniel is only eight wins shy of 400.
Wallace State is on the road in North Carolina this weekend, facing three ranked opponents.
“It’s going to be a very competitive weekend for us. It should only make us better,” Daniel said.
Wallace State Men’s golf
Wallace State sophomore Brandon Lacasse outlasted three Eastern Florida State competitors and won individual low medalist honors at the NJCAA District 4 Fall Preview this week in Melbourne, Fla.
Lacasse, who hails from Chateauguay, Quebec, won the tournament with a 3-under par 213. He carded a 73-70-70 during the two-day event, edging Eastern Florida State’s Mathieu Echelard by one stroke.
Lacasse is one of Wallace State’s top sophomore returners after being named a PING All-District 4 selection as a freshman.
Wallace State finished fourth as a group at the Duran Golf Club with a 913 collectively. Eastern Florida State won the tournament with a 9-over 873. Central Alabama was runner-up with a 906.
Wallace State’s Anthony Lumpkin finished tied for 8^th with a 10-over 226 (71-76-79).
Cody Maddox carded a 233 (76-78-79) for the Lions, Logan Forrester finished with a 244 and Thomas Gevas rounded out the squad with a 246.
Wallace State tees it up again on Oct. 15-17 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Tournament.
Wallace State Cross County
Wallace State’s cross country teams competed last weekend in the Jacksonville State XC Foothills Invitational.
Wallace State’s men finished 13^th in the event, outlasting Point University, Huntingdon College, Shorter College, Tuskegee, Clark-Atlanta, Rust College and Miles College.
Victor Bravo placed highest for Wallace State individually for the fourth time this fall. Bravo finished the men’s 8000 meter run with a 29:08.10.
Christian Baker placed behind Bravo with 30:21.30.
Tyler Crowden (30:47.60), Jacob Guthrie (31:15.00) and Brennan Wink (33:53.10) rounded out the meet for the Lions.
In the women’s 5000 meter run, Marlena Morales had Wallace State’s top finish with a 21:25.90.
Taylor Barkley was behind Morales with a 23:01.00 and Sofia Ramos finished in 23:17.60 for the Lions.
Both Wallace State teams travel to Tuscaloosa on Oct. 13.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/