Ingrid Wicker-McCree has developed a solid CIAA program in her 10 seasons as N.C. Central volleyball coach.

The Eagles won the conference championship in 1999, but recently they have had one major nemesis. St. Augustine's has been a terror in the conference lately, winning the last three championships. Twice -- in 2000 and again last season -- the Falcons have denied the Eagles the title in the conference final, winning each time in five games.

Wicker-McCree (182-156), who was named coach of the year last season and in 1999, said she thinks it's time the Eagles ended their nine-game slide against their Western Division rivals from Raleigh.

The Eagles went 17-18, including a loaded nonconference schedule, but were 14-2 in CIAA play. Both losses came to the Falcons, who didn't lose a CIAA game.

The Eagles are hoping for a chance for revenge over the next three days in the conference tournament at NCCU's Walker Complex and McLendon-McDougald Gym.

The Eagles will be favored to advance out of their pool play, which starts at the Walker Complex today with games against Virginia Union at 9 a.m., Winston-Salem State at 1 p.m. and Eastern Division champion Shaw at 7. St. Aug's is the easy favorite to win its own pool today, with games against Bowie State at 11 a.m., Fayetteville State at 3 p.m. and Virginia State at 7.

The simultaneous volleyball semifinals are Saturday morning at 10 at the Walker Complex, with the title match Sunday at 10 a.m. at historic McLendon-McDougald Gym.

The volleyball championships are a part of a weekend CIAA sports festival, with the highest profile event being the football title game matching reigning conference champion Fayetteville State (7-3, 5-2 CIAA) and perennial power Virginia Union (6-3, 5-2) Saturday at 1 p.m. at O'Kelly-Riddick Stadium.

Bowling championships are Sunday through Tuesday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at AMF Durham Lanes.

"I'm happy we're hosting, but I'm not happy about all the work I've had to do this week," Wicker-McCree said with tongue in cheek. "We wanted to have the tournament the same week as the football game [as was the case in Winston-Salem last year], and I think it's been good for us. It has gotten us a lot more publicity and I hope a lot more fans in the stands."

The Eagles had four players honored when the All-CIAA teams came out Tuesday. Middle hitter Ayana Wright and outside hitter Porché Williams were named to the all-conference first team, while outside hitter Brenda Brown and setter Ariel Germain made the second. Of the four honorees, all but the senior Wright are sophomores.

Williams, a native of Long Beach, Calif., leads the conference with 394 kills and 83 aces.

"She may be the best hitter we've ever had," Wicker-McCree said.

Said Williams: "We've got a good chance to win the tournament. The team is a lot like last year's except we have more experience."

Williams said she's happy she accepted her full scholarship from NCCU ahead of competing offers from Morgan State and Cal State-Stanislaus, except for one thing.

"It's cold here," she said. "Very cold."

As for Wicker-McCree, she's trying to make even better an academic year that already has been great.

The Durham native married a former Elon football player named Geno McCree on Aug. 23, and the couple is expecting a daughter.

"This has been a test, to go through this [pregnancy] and coach," she said. "But if we play like we've been playing, we've got a great chance to get to the finals. Then we'd just have to play our best game and beat St. Aug."

The CIAA volleyball champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.