MOREHEAD, Ky.—Morehead State fall sports open preseason camps this week with high hopes of championship seasons.
Women’s soccer, fresh off a regular season Ohio Valley Conference title last year, is poised to make a repeat run in coach
Warren Lipka’s second year, and reclaim the OVC Tournament Title.
The soccer Eagles were picked second in the OVC’s preseason poll, conducted among head coaches and sports information directors, but garnered the most first-place votes. MSU returns four of its five leading scorers, including
Devan Jordan and
Jillian Birchmeier. The pair both ranked in the top seven in the OVC in goals scored and Jordan was among the top five in total points as well.
Soccer began camp on Sunday with an exhibition scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 15 at noon. Morehead State opens the 2010 season at Cincinnati on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m. The Eagles' home opener is Sept. 5 versus Wright State at 1 p.m.
Volleyball doesn’t open the season until the end of the month, but coach Jaime Gordon’s players got started with conditioning on Monday. The team will also be participating in a unique team-building exercise this week in Louisville before returning for two-a-day practices until school begins.
Led by senior hitters
Kaitlin Craven,
Holly Evans and setter
Kirstie Brangers, the Eagles were picked to win the OVC in the league’s preseason poll. Runners-up in last year’s OVC Tournament, MSU returns all but one starter, including Preseason All-OVC selections
Emma Keough and
Annie Gruenschlaeger. Craven was also named to the Preseason All-OVC team.
Morehead State volleyball opens the 2010 season at the Georgia State Invitational on August 27-28. The Eagles’ home opener is Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. versus OVC defending champions Jacksonville State.
Eagle football has a crowd of 38 new faces to help coach
Matt Ballard’s squad rebound from a disappointing 2009 season. Picked ninth by the Pioneer League coaches, football opens camp with a Tuesday helmets-only practice and will suit-up in full pads starting Saturday.
Expectations will be high on both sides of the ball this season. The Eagle defense had a stellar year in 2009, ranking among the top of the Football Championship Subdivision leaders in several categories. The graduation of three key defensive players,
Wes McDermott, Derek Steiner and
Andrew Doan gives defensive coordinator
John Gilliam a little extra work to do to plug those holes. Look for experienced players such as
Jerome Raymond,
Chris Burns,
Tony Bachman,
Mark Hall and
Kyle Manley.
Ballard and MSU offensive coordinator
Gary Dunn are expecting bigger and better things from the Eagle offense this year.
Zach Lewis, who took over as Morehead State’s primary signal caller halfway though his freshman year, is penciled in as the starter. Lewis, who improved consistently through last year, had a strong spring, culminating with a 20-of-39 performance for 229 yards in the spring game.
Lewis will have a lot of experience in his ball carriers and his protection. Battered last season, the offensive line is healthy again and anchored by veterans
Brad Seger,
Eric Matteson and
Josh Ison. That should give Lewis plenty of protection and open holes for returning running backs
Desmond Cox, and
Ronnie McDermott and a crop of role runners that could figure in, including
Cory Jackson,
Drew Morgan,
Adam Slupski and
Nick Bauer. Add in several returning wide receivers in
Kevin Thomas,
Andre Williams,
Jaison Yoshimura and
Donte Sawyer and MSU has to potential for a strong offensive rebound this year.
The Eagles open the 2010 season on the road and national championship caliber James Madison on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. before returning home to face St. Francis in the home opener on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m.