ASU head coach Dale Carr and his staff doesn’t have to look any further than last season to realize the depth and firepower that exists in the LSC South Division.

   The Rams had a 6-2 record in mid-October with impressive wins over Midwestern State and Texas A&M-Commerce, two teams that would eventually share respective division titles.

   But with playoff hopes on the line, ASU would falter down the stretch, losing their last three games to LSC-South foes and finish the season 6-5.

   But don’t think that’s derailed Carr’s confidence heading into his sixth season.

   “This is clearly the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here. This is the team we set out to field when I got here in ’05,” said Carr, who is 23-31 at ASU. “This is very a good team, but the offset to that is we’re going to play a lot of good football teams.”

   ASU has a familiar face at quarterback once again in senior Josh Neiswander, a sixth-year veteran who has two redshirt seasons. But he’s coming off a season where he passed for 2,933 yards – good for fourth in the LSC statistical rankings last year.

   “Josh is an impressive individual in more ways than one,” Carr said of Neiswander, who graduated last December. “He’s certainly the bell-cow for what we think is going to be a very prolific offense. He’s someone we think the NFL scouts will be looking at.”

   Another reason this offense should be so prolific is wide receiver V’Keon Lacey, a second-team All-LSC pick who led the conference with 74 catches, along with 878 yards and 10 scores. Sophomore receiver Dakari Pecikonis was the LSC South Freshman of the Year with 35 grabs for 757 yards, leading the conference with a 21.6 average to go along with seven touchdowns.

   Running back Dwight Pete returns after rushing for 563 yards and five scores.

   Up front, three starters are back in juniors Stephen Boyles, Connor Cook and Keefer Preece to anchor the offensive line.

   Only four starters return on defense, but Carr isn’t too concerned.

   “Defensively, we’ve lost a few players, but we’ve replaced them with better athletes,” Carr said. “I think we’re going to be fine on that side of the ball.”

   Defensive tackle Cody Smith was a second-team All-LSC pick last year and should lead the way. The secondary returns three starters in Jake Eannarelli, Alvin Johnson and cornerback Markeith Jones, an All-LSC honorable mention selection in 2009.

   “I don’t know if we have a chink in our armor,” Carr said. “I don’t think we’re great anywhere, but I don’t think we’re going to be bad anywhere. And those are good types of football teams. They’re put together without any weaknesses.

   “But it’s going to be tough week in and week out. There’s just not a gimme game in this conference. But we know we’ve got a good football team.”

 

   The overall win total actually dropped by one game in 2009 from the previous season, but don’t think for a moment that third-year head coach Chuck Waddington wasn’t excited about the Rambelles season a year ago.

   ASU finished the year 19-14, a slight drop from a 20-14 record in 2008. But the Belles did win 10 LSC games and picked up the school’s first post-season win in five years, advancing to the semifinals of the LSC Championship.

   Waddington returns 10 players from last year’s squad, including sophomore sensation Chelsea Gibson. The middle blocker not only earned first-team All-LSC honors, but was named LSC Freshman of the Year. Gibson ranked second in the conference with a .318 hitting percentage and was ninth overall in kills with 270.

   Sophomore Caroline Cleveland was an All-LSC honorable mention pick, after recording 247 kills in her freshman year.

   Other ASU returnees include sophomores Alex Woolsey, Katie Coleman, Claire Chomout, Emily Booth and Kaitlyn Standard.

   ASU was picked to finish third in the LSC preseason poll again this year.

 

   Third-year head coach Travis McCorkle returns eight starters from last year’s 10-9 season, which included a 4-6 league record.

   Junior forward Brandie DeBacker was an all-conference honorable mention pick after tying for the team lead with eight goals scored last year. Senior forward Ashley Brown led the team with 20 points and tied DeBacker with eight goals.

   Sophomore midfielder Hanna Horeis had seven points last year, including three goals. Sophomore forward Lauren Carnes and junior defender Megan Schaffer will add some depth.

   Goalkeeper Melanie Peterson was 8-7 in the net last year with 78 saves.

  

   Head coach Tom Dibbern takes over a men’s team picked to finish sixth in the LSC this year. The Rams were fifth in the final conference meet in 2009.

   From there, ASU finished 15th in the regional meet.

   Senior Nate Gonzalez finished 16th in the LSC meet last year and junior Randal Guinn wasn’t far behind at 21st. Other returnees include Robert Hummingbird and Nick Wargo, along with sophomore Isac Valdez and Hogan Campbell.

  

   The Rambelles have several runners returning from last year’s squad that finished second in the LSC Championships and 11th at the regional meet.

   Head coach Tom Dibbern is counting on Alyssa Priest and Emeline Crutcher for leadership this year.

   Crutcher had a solid freshman year in 2009, placing 55th at regional’s, while Priest was 76th and looks to improve on that finish in her junior season.

   Also, Jessica Boudreau, Brittney Welchon and Jennifer Flanery all return with South Central Regional experience.

   “I think that our women’s team has a very good chance to be one of the few teams atop the conference at the end of the season,” Dibbern said.