Bleu Devil News
Wed, Sep 9, 2009 - [Volleyball]
Keisha Smoke
Keisha Smoke
New Orleans, LA - With 30 kills and 52 digs over the three matches of the Texas Southern University Volleyball Season Opener Tournament in Houston, TX, senior outside hitter Keisha Smoke was named to the all-tournament team at the conclusion of the Labor Day weekend event.
 

Although the Lady Blue Devils are off to a 0-3 start, it came against some stiff competition.  Playing three NCAA Division I teams over two days, DU faced Texas Southern, Mississippi Valley - the 2008 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Eastern Division Champions, and Prairie View - the 2006 and 2007 SWAC champions.

"I was pleased with how we played, we got to work some kinks out," said head coach Yolanda Brown.  "Teams were surprised that we took them to four and five games, the women showed a lot of character. We are going to be very competitive when conference starts."

Below is a quick summary of the event:

Final Standings
Tournament winner - Texas Southern University, 3-0
Prairie View, 2-1
Mississippi Valley, 1-2
Dillard, 0-3

Dillard Match Scores
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
Dillard lost to Mississippi Valley, 2-3 (28-26, 25-27, 25-23, 22-25, 11-15)
Friday, Sept. 4, 2009
Dillard lost to Texas Southern, 1-3 (19-25, 18-25, 25-22, 20-25)
Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009
Dillard lost to Prairie View, 2-3 (25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 20-25, 15-12)
   
The All-Tournament Team:
Emma Obi - Texas Southern, Tournament MVP
Keisha Smoke - Dillard
Maura Moed - Mississippi Valley
Erin Fondel - Prairie View
Cheri Lindsay - Prairie View
Ashlee Cooper - Texas Southern
Lacy Verdun (Libero) - Texas Southern
 

The Lady Blue Devils will take on Grambling State, another NCAA Division I and SWAC opponent, this Friday, September 11, in Grambling, La.  Match time is 7 p.m.