The Javs were back in 2009 as TAMUK returned to the post season and had a successful 9-3 campaign.  They started the season strong against the reigning Gulf South Conference champion, Delta State and marched off seven consecutive wins until an abrupt and decisive loss to Midwestern State.  The Javs would finish the last part of the season 2-3.  Fourth-year Coach Bo Atterberry has Texas A&M-Kingsville back on the football map as reigning LSC Champions, but there are doubters and tough competition.

The offense will be led by All-LSC selection Fred Winborn, who led the LSC in total rushing yards and yards per game, having four 100-yard performances including a school-record 263 yards vs. Eastern New Mexico.  Also returning is two-time All-LSC second team wide-receiver Ryan Lincoln.  He led the team in catches and had three 100-yard receiving games last season.  The defense will be anchored by the two All-LSC second team safeties Delra Glover and Corey Robertson.  The kicking game returns All-LSC honorable mention Christian Brom.

TAMUK starts the years off with the defending national champion – Northwest Missouri State in Maryville.  This will be quit a large task, but will certainly let the Javelinas know what level of talent it takes to be back on top.  This game is a great match-up and will set the tone for both teams.  With a challenging LSC South schedule there are key home games with Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M, before traveling to avenge the heartbreaking overtime loss to Tarleton in the playoffs.

D2 Sports Network predicts the TAMUK Javelinas to finish 9-2 yet stumble in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs.

The Vulcans return 18 starters this season including CDS second-team All-American Dan Jordan.  The senior offensive lineman anchors one of the most veteran lines in the nation.  Running the offense will be graduate student quarterback Josh Portis.  He set new school records last season with 3,421 yards and 36 touchdown passes.  The defense will be led by two-year starting junior linebacker Brett Diamond.

They start the season as they travel to GLIAC conference member, Saginaw Valley State.  The Cardinals won this battle last year and it will again set the tone of the season for both teams.  CUP then travels to CW Post as their conference schedule begins.  Key contests will include Clarion, IUP and Edinboro.

D2 Sports Network predicts the CUP Vulcans will win the PSAC race and finish the season with a record of 11-3 in the semifinals of the NCAA playoffs.

The Tiger offense will be a talented group coached by OC and former Harlon Hill winner, Will Hall.  They are anchored by All-GSC returning wide receiver/return specialist Terry Allen along with All-GSC tackle Jarod Porter and the returning starter at quarterback Deon Williams.  He was 197-355-12 for a 58.8 completion percentage, 2804 yards and 25 touchdowns.  He also ran for over 350 net yards on the season with rushing touchdowns.  The West Alabama defense will be led by Shontral Ford, the Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshmen of the Year.

UWA starts the season vs. NAIA Shorter College before starting their ten-game GSC schedule at UAM.  They will have a chance the next week to avenge one of last season’s losses when NAIA Lambuth visits town before being tested on the road against Delta State just two weeks later.  The season wraps up with key contests vs. in-state rival North Alabama and tough GSC foe Valdosta State.

D2 Sports Network predicts the UWA Tigers will finish the season with a record of 11-2 in the quarterfinals of the NCAA playoffs.

The Ichabod Defense will be led by All-MIAA DB Pierre Desir, who led the conference with seven interceptions, and All-MIAA second team selection safety Casey Curran. Quarterback Dane Simoneau, who set school single-season records for passing yards (2,955), passing completions (186), total offense (2,923) and passing percentage (60.4), was named to All-MIAA second team along with offensive tackle Brian Folkerts and center Ty Lewis with all returning as key starters for the Washburn Offense.

WU will start the season again with Colorado – Mines from the RMAC before hosting Abilene Christian from the LSC. That contest, along with with hosting MoWest the next week with a chance to avenge one of the last season’s losses will set the tone for the season. The Ichabods will also have a tough homecoming opponent as the National Champion Bearcats visit town.

D2 Sports Network predicts that the WU Ichabods will finish the season with a 10-2 record in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs.

The offense will be anchored by returning running back Ronnye Nelson and GSC Offensive Freshmen of the Year wide receiver Gerald Ford.  Named as a All-GSC second team selection, he had 41 receptions for 526 yards last year.  The defense will be captained by first team All-GSC linebacker Larry Dean.  He led the Blazers for a second consecutive year in tackles finishing 2009 with 80 including 7.5 for a loss and broke up four passes.  Sophomore punter Jack Fulford was also named All-GSC second team and will be back on special teams for the Blazers.

The 2010 schedule is again front-loaded with several key contests in the first few weeks of play.  VSU starts with two SAC foes in Wingate and Newberry and both have been in the playoffs in recent seasons.  The contest with Newberry will give the Blazers a chance to avenge their open-season loss last year.  They will then host arch-rival Delta State a couple of week prior to hosting Ouachita Baptist, who shocked the Blazers and GSC for several weeks last year, for Homecoming.  The Blazers close out the year against 2009 second round playoff participant West Alabama.

D2 Sports Network predicts the VSU Blazers to finish the season 9-3 in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.

“This is an accomplishment that really reflects on the quality of student-athletes we have at Grand Valley State,” said athletic director, Tim Selgo. “I am extremely proud of our coaches and administration and thank the university for its wonderful support of our athletic program.”

GVSU finished with 1021.50 points and was able to tally points in the maximum of 14 sports (7 men’s, 7 women’s). The Lakers placed a total of 16 teams in postseason play during the 2009-10 academic year, with eleven teams finishing in the top 10 nationally. GVSU used consistency throughout each season, collecting 355.00 points in the fall, 330.50 points in the winter and 336.00 points in the spring. The Laker women scored 570.5 points, while the men scored 451.0 points.

Grand Valley State claimed the National Championship in women’s soccer, finished second in football, women’s cross country and women’s indoor track & field, third in women’s outdoor track & field, fourth in men’s swimming & diving, fifth in men’s cross country, sixth in women’s golf, eighth in women’s swimming & diving, ninth in baseball and women’s tennis, 17th in men’s basketball, 23rd in men’s outdoor track & field and 29th in men’s indoor track & field. GVSU did not count the points scored by men’s golf and women’s volleyball.

Rounding out the top five nationally were California (Pa.) (703.00), Central Missouri (672.50), Minnesota State-Mankato (660.50), and St. Cloud State (643.50). GLIAC schools were also well represented with Ashland finishing seventh (636.75), Wayne State 21st (454.5) and Findlay 34th (392.25).

GVSU’s seven Directors’ Cup titles are tops among all NCAA DII school’s and the 2009-10 campaign marked the third straight year that Grand Valley State has eclipsed the 1,000-point total.

That will be the reality that new Head Coach Tim Beck has to face, but this program has resiliency.  Coach Beck is a long-time Broyles assistant and the new but familiar blood may be just the shot in that arm that Gorillas need to get back in control of the MIAA and into the national title game.  It will be a tough task, but there will be a turnaround in town this year.  Pitt State will be led by junior quarterback Jeff Smith, who started three games last year.  The defense will be anchored by All-MIAA second team selection senior safely Alex Kuhlman.  He started eleven games last year snagging 71 tackles (27 solo) with two interceptions and four pass breakups.

PSU starts the year on-the-road vs. LSC opponent Central Oklahoma before hosting RMAC foe Chadron State.   The Gorillas will have the chance to avenge several losses this season starting by hosting Central Missouri to start the MIAA schedule.  Other important games include hosting Washburn for Homecoming and Nebraska-Omaha before closing the regular season with defending national champion Northwest Missouri State.

D2 Sports Network predicts the PSU Gorillas will finish the season 10-3 in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.

However, the Wildcats will start with the potentially equally-strong MIAA foe when they visit Washburn.  This game will set the tone for the season while two dates stand out on the calendar.  The first is a trip to LSC opponent Texas A&M – Kingsville in week five before taking on rival West Texas A&M in Canyon in the tenth week.

The team will be led on offense by All-Region & All-LCS South selections FB Justin Andrews and OL Royland Tubbs.  The defense will be led by returning All-Region & All-LSC South stand-out DE Aston Whiteside and All-Region second team selections LB Fred Thompson (All-LSC South second team) and Kevin Washington (All-LSC South first team).

D2 Sports Network predicts the ACU Wildcats will finish the season 10-3 in the second round of the NCAA Playoffs.

A major leader and weapon will be All-American (Honorable Mention), All-GSC, and GSC Player of the Week, Trevar Deed.  Any D2 school would be lucky to have him as he gained 1,917 all-purpose yards and scored 15 touchdowns last season.  He will be supported by several returning starts and over 20 transfers from community college or other classification of the NCAA.

The Statesmen open against in-state rival Jackson State from the FCS (formerly I-AA).  That game will be a good opener for bragging rights, but won’t factor into the post-season.  A week later, DSU will attempt to avenge one of last season’s losses by hosting Arkansas Tech before traveling to an always tough opponent in Valdosta State.  Just two weeks later in Cleveland, another GSC playoff team visits as UWA will attempt to make it two-in-a-row.  Other tough games of the season include hosting North Alabama and the final week of the regular season on-the-road against Ouachita Baptist.

D2 Sports Network predicts Delta State will finish 8-4 losing in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

“What a win,” said Coach Bryan Nakasone. “It was a long road and nothing came easily and especially not this game.”

HPU posed little threat through four innings, and trailed 2-0 after the Lady Blazers plated two first inning runs. Then in the fifth inning, the Sea Warriors sent 10 batters to the plate and put four runs on the board. VSU countered with a run in the bottom of the inning to cut the score to 4-3.

Sherise Musquiz (34-3) earned the win but not before some tense moments in the seventh inning. Colette Rollins walked to load the bases with just one out, but pinch hitter Amy Brightwell lined to Caira Pires at third for the second out. Musquiz then got April Hutchins to fly out to centerfielder Kozy Toriano for the game’s final out.

“What a way to go out in my last year,” said senior second baseman Casey Sugihara. “It still hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Holly Satterfield pitched four and one-third innings for the loss, allowing three runs on four hits. Alyssa Shirey posted two hits and two RBI for VSU, and Amber Shaw recorded two hits and one run scored.

Ciera Senas led HPU in her final performance as a Sea Warrior, recording two hits and one run.

After the game, Sugihara, Ciera Senas, Nicole Morrow, and Sherise Musquiz were named to the All-Tournament Team. Musquiz was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player after going 4-0 on the week.

– Courtesy Hawaii Pacific Athletics