NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana has only one finalist for the 2019 HBCU Awards, but she's a good one: Volleyball's Pat Kendrick is in the running for Female Coach of the Year.
     Kendrick led the Gold Nuggets to a 26-7 record and tied the school record for victories in a season. XULA for the eighth consecutive year won Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships and qualified for the NAIA National Championship tournament.
     "Coach PK is a very hard-working and consistent coach," said middle blocker Vivica Price-Spraggins, who hit a school-record .400 this past season. "She is always persistent and makes sure we are in condition to perform at our best."
     Kendrick is one of three from volleyball vying for Female Coach of the Year. The other two are Alabama State's Penny Lucas-White and Virginia State's Amanda Walker. The other finalists are Chandra Cheeseborough-Guice of Tennessee State track and field/cross country and AnnMarie Gilbert of Virginia Union basketball.
     Winners will be announced Aug. 2 at an awards ceremony at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture in downtown Baltimore.
     The HBCU Awards acknowledge and celebrate achievement at historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States. Winners are honored in the fields of leadership, arts, athletics, research and community engagement. HBCUDigest.com announced the finalists Monday.
     The HBCU Award would be Kendrick's fourth honor of 2018-19. She won GCAC, Louisiana and AVCA NAIA Southeast Region Coach of the Year.