Coyotes get preseason national ranking

Cal State San Bernardino, coming off a 22-8 record and a share of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) regular-season title a year ago, has been ranked No. 20 in the 2008-09 NABC Preseason Men’s Basketball Coaches Poll that was released on Thursday.

The Coyotes, who are also the preseason favorite to capture the 2009 CCAA title, received 40 points in the voting after finishing 14th in the 2007-08 final poll.

Findlay, Ohio, garnered the top spot in the NABC poll after concluding last season with a 28-5 mark. South Carolina Aiken was second and was followed by Bentley, Mass., Florida Southern and Augusta State.

Cal State San Bernardino received a Top 20 ranking despite losing three first-team All-CCAA performers in seniors Michael Earl, Lance Ortiz and Marlon Pierce. However, the Coyotes’ roster will be strengthened by the addition of guards Devin Montgomery and DuBois Williams, who join the Coyotes after time at Division I institutions Pepperdine and Saint Mary’s, respectively.

The 2008-09 season will begin November 7 when Humboldt State opens play in the Second Annual Disney Tip-Off Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center. CCAA play begins December 3 when Humboldt State hosts Sonoma State in Arcata, Calif.

The CCAA Tournament is slated for March 3-7 with the semifinals and finals scheduled for March 6 and 7 at Coussoulis Arena on the campus of Cal State San Bernardino.

2008-09 NABC/Division II Preseason Coaches Poll
                                                                                             
1.   Findlay, Ohio (8) – 28-5                      
2.   South Carolina Aiken –  27-4                     
3.   Bentley, Mass. – 34-1                      
4.   Florida Southern – 24-9                      
5.   Augusta State, Ga. – 27-7                     
6.   Northern Kentucky – 21-8                      
7.   Central Oklahoma – 28-6                      
8.   Minnesota State – 22-7                      
9.   Winona State, Minn. – 38-1                      
10. Gannon, Pa. – 26-5                      
11. Grand Valley State, Mich. – 36-1                      
12. Southwest Baptist, Mo. – 22-8                      
13. Central Washington – 21-7                      
14. LIU-C.W. Post, N.Y. – 26-5                       
15. North Alabama – 27-9                       
16. Northwest Missouri State – 24-8                       
17. Lenoir-Rhyne, N.C. – 23-7                      
18. Drury, Mo. – 25-6                       
19. Tarleton State, Texas – 25-7                       
20. Cal State-San Bernardino – 22-8                      
21. Mount Olive, N.C. – 24-7                       
22. Kentucky Wesleyan – 24-8                       
23. Brigham Young-Hawaii – 20-8                       
24. Fort Lewis, Colo. – 24-6                       
25. Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Pa. – 23-8                       
 
Others receiving votes: Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 20, Ferris State (Mich.) 18, Bowie State (Md.) 17, Central Missouri 17, Philadelphia (Pa.) 17, Benedict (S.C.) 14, Catawba (N.C.) 14, Christian Brothers (Tenn.) 14, Northern State (S.D.) 13, Clayton State (Ga.) 11, Arkansas-Monticello 9, Valdosta State (Ga.) 8, Delta State (Miss.) 7, St. Edward’s (Texas) 6, Virginia Union 6, Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 5, Metropolitan State (Colo.) 5, Montevallo (Ala.) 5, Armstrong Atlantic State (Ga.) 4, Pfeiffer (N.C.) 3, Northeastern State (Okla.) 2, Ashland (Ohio) 1, Millersville (Pa.) 1, Nebraska-Omaha 1.

 

 

 

 

Share this

Plusone Twitter Facebook Tumblr Reddit Stumbleupon Email

Redlands water polo team moves up

Division III’s only team ranked in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Varsity Top 20, No. 13 University of Redlands, moved up one spot in this week’s men’s rankings, according to a press release from the CWPA.

 

After a nail biting win over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges by a 6-5 final and a decisive 11-5 triumph over Occidental College, the Bulldogs jumped Santa Clara University for the 13th-place spot in the national poll.

 

The team also received a unanimous vote as the top squad in Division III, an honor that the maroon and gray has had the entirety of the season.

 

Redlands (18-7, 3-0 SCIAC) plays against Chapman University in Orange at 3 p.m. this afternoon and will travel to Caltech later in the evening to take on the Beavers at 7 p.m.

Share this

Plusone Twitter Facebook Tumblr Reddit Stumbleupon Email

Leopards stay on a roll with 3-0 win

The University of La Verne volleyball team reached the 20-win plateau for the ninth consecutive season with a 3-0 Senior Night triumph over visiting Pomona-Pitzer Tuesday at Frantz Athletic Court.

Scores were 25-11, 25-23 and 25-10.

The Leopards, ranked third in the latest AVCA Top 25 Poll, improved to 20-2 overall and remained unbeaten in SCIAC play at 11-0. In the process the Leos snapped Pomona-Pitzer’s five-match conference win streak as the Hens fall to 18-8 and 7-4, respectively.

La Verne established control from the start, opening a 20-10 advantage on its way to a 25-11 verdict. The Leopards hit .400 in the first set while limiting the Sagehens to a .059 percentage.

The Hens battled the Leopards throughout the second stanza, reeling off four consecutive points after a 20-16 deficit to pull even at 20-20. Down 23-22, La Verne closed the set with three straight points, culminating in a Rebecca Villanueva ace to prevail 25-23.

The Leopards regained its focus in the third frame, seizing leads 7-1 and 15-5 before a block by Crista Jones finished the match for the Leopards’ 20th win of the season. La Verne hit .406 in the third set and held the Hens to a .028 clip.

For the match, La Verne hit .280 compared to .047 for Pomona-Pitzer. Moreover, the Green and Orange tallied nine blocks and six service aces.

Before the match, the Leopards honored its seniors in outside hitter Brianna Gonzales, opposite Madison Bradley and setter Yesenia Lopez.

La Verne continues conference action Saturday as it hosts Caltech at Frantz Athletic Court in an 11:30 am start.

Share this

Plusone Twitter Facebook Tumblr Reddit Stumbleupon Email