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• Published: Nov 20, 2009

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GRAMBLING — Southern University will face defending champion Alabama A&M at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Southwestern Athletic Conference volleyball tournament at Grambling’s Assembly Center and Memorial Gymnasium.

Southern (8-15, 2-6 SWAC) is the No. 4 seed from the West Division. Alabama A&M (8-0 in SWAC) is the top-seeded team from the East. The Bulldogs, who have won eight of the last nine SWAC titles, will be seeking their third straight championship.

Host Grambling is the West’s No. 1 seed after going 8-0 in league play. The Tigers will face the East’s No. 4 seed, Alabama State, at 11 a.m. Saturday.

In 9 a.m. matches Saturday, West No. 2 seed Prairie View A&M meets East No. 3 seed Mississippi Valley State, and East No. 2 seed Jackson State meets West No. 3 seed Texas Southern.

The tournament concludes Sunday with the championship match scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be shown live by ESPNU.

Sun Belt

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The University of New Orleans rallied from two sets down to defeat Arkansas State 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-11, 17-15) in the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt Conference Championships on Thursday afternoon.

With the victory, the fourth-seeded UNO (20-11) will advance to a semifinal at 5 p.m. today against top-seeded Florida International.

Maria Szivos tallying career-highs in kills (24) and digs (21). Lindsey Loyd added 18 kills and 12 digs. Hajnalka Molnar distributed 43 assists.

Southland Conference

SAN ANTONIO — Top-seeded Texas State meets Southeastern Louisiana at 11 a.m. today, when the Southland Conference tournament begins.

The Bobcats (19-12, 13-3) are making their sixth consecutive tournament appearance and are the No. 1 seed for the second straight season.

Eighth-seeded seed Southeastern (9-18, 5-11) is making its first postseason appearance since 2002.