WSCC’s men’s golf finishes fall ranked 5th in country; Volleyball begins play Thursday at NJCAA Division I national championship

HANCEVILLE, ALA. – Wallace State’s men’s golf team wrapped up the fall slate on Tuesday, finishing third in the Trojan Invitational at Montgomery’s Wynlakes Golf and Country Club.
The Lions are also ranked fifth in the final National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) fall season poll, which was released today.
Wallace State sophomore Brandon Lacasse finished in a three-way tie as the individual tournament runner-up at the Trojan Invitational, capping a strong fall season.
Lacasse led the field over the first 18 holes by carding a 67 and shot a 76 during the second round to finish with a 1-under par 143. He tied with Central Alabama’s Jake Maples and Owen Burt.
During the fall season, Lacasse was the individual low medalist at the NJCAA District IV Preview and finished second individually at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Invitational – one of two fall tournament championships for Wallace State. The Lions also won their own Fall Invitational in September.
Lacasse, who hails from Chateauguay, Quebec, is one of Wallace State’s top sophomore returners after being named a PING All-District 4 selection as a freshman.
Anthony Lumpkin finished in eighth place with a 4-over 148 for the Lions (75-73). Conner Bruce shot a 152, Cody Maddox a 155 and Luke Wilson a 158.
Wallace State finished with a 21-over 597 (301-296) as a group.
Host Central Alabama was the tournament champion, finishing with an 8-over 584. Calhoun was second with a 589.
Calhoun’s Sam Murphy was the tournament low medalist, finishing with a 5-under 139.
Wallace State volleyball opens NJCAA Tournament play on Thursday
Wallace State’s volleyball team makes its ninth consecutive NJCAA Division I national tournament appearance and a conference-best 17^th overall beginning Thursday in Hutchinson, Kan.
The 16^th-seeded Lions (34-8) have a tall task in their tournament opener, playing top-seeded and defending national champion Miami Dade (Fla.) at 1 p.m. CST in the double-elimination tournament. The Sharks are 30-0.
All national tournament matches are streamed live at www.njcaatv.com.
Wallace State brings a balanced attack to the national tournament.
The Lions have three players who have recorded at least 160 kills: Kaylee Maddox (496), Lexie Riggins (381), Alex Wiggins (288) and Maya Jones (160).
Abby Borden, the 2017 Alabama Community College Conference Player of the Year, is one of the nation’s leaders with 1,396 assists and has added 284 digs.
Sophomore Emily Wilson leads the team with 686 digs. Maddox has contributed 333 digs and Wiggins has added 277 digs.
Riggins, the ACCC Tournament MVP, has a team-best 159 blocks.
Wallace State advanced to Kansas after winning a ninth consecutive ACCC tournament championship earlier this month. The Lions also won their 10^th straight regular season title.
For more information about Wallace State athletics, visit http://athletics.wallacestate.edu/