TWO WEEKS REMAINING UNTIL FALL SPORTS GET UNDERWAY

COMMERCE, Texas -- We are just two weeks away from the start of the 2011-12 Texas A&M University-Commerce athletic season, as football, soccer and volleyball have all reported to campus and have begun preseason practices. Below is a quick glance at all three teams leading up to their respective season openers.

FOOTBALL
First Practice: Thursday, Aug. 11
Season Opener: Saturday, Sept. 3 at Upper Iowa
Home Opener: Thursday, Sept. 22 vs. Ouachita Baptist

Head coach Guy Morriss begins his third season in Commerce with a good mix of both veterans and newcomers. Offensively, the Lions will be led by senior running back Marcus Graham, a two-time Lone Star Conference selection who enters the season less than 500 yards shy of cracking the Lions' top-10 rushing leaders. He will be joined by sophomore wide receiver Kenzee Jackson, a first team All-LSC North Division selection. The Lions' biggest question marks on offense come at quarterback, where transfers Yogi Gallegos and J.J. Harp will battle for the starting position, and at offensive line, which has experienced a host of injuries.

Defensively, the Lions' linebacking corps could prove to be one of the best in the conference. Junior Danny Mason was a first team All-LSC selection in 2010, and he will be joined by Cory Whitfield, a 2009 All-LSC selection who missed the entire 2010 campaign with an injury. One of the deepest positions on the roster, the linebacking corps will tell the tale of the defense in 2011. The defensive line returns a number of players that saw significant time last season, including second team All-LSC selection Tevin Moore and senior Jacoby Veals. A&M-Commerce's secondary has a number of young players vying for playing time.

SOCCER
First Practice: Monday, Aug. 15
Season Opener: Friday, Sept. 2 at Northwest Missouri State
Home Opener: Sunday, Sept. 11 vs. St. Edward's

Neil Piper returns for his 14th season on the A&M-Commerce sidelines with a unique challenge for the 2011 campaign. Of the 20 players on the roster, 16 are either sophomores or freshmen, with the Lions' four seniors expected to take on the leadership role. Senior Devon Herrman is A&M-Commerce's top returning scorer, notching five goals and adding a pair of assists in 2010, with sophomore Elle DeFreitas adding a pair of goals and an assist on the year. Three other sophomores (Tareyn Blanton, Brionna Minde and Taylor Hunt) recorded goals for the Lions last season.

Defensively, two-time second team All-Lone Star selection Evan Stanberry will anchor the Lion defensive unit as she has started every game during her previous three years in Commerce. Senior Randi Hafele looks to be the Lions' primary goalkeeper after recording an 8-5-3 record in 2010 with 85 saves and nine shutouts. A&M-Commerce soccer fans will also get the chance to see each LSC team in action at Lion Soccer Field as Piper's squad will face each team twice this year, once on the road and once in Commerce.

VOLLEYBALL
First Practice: Friday, Aug. 19
Season/Home Opener: Tuesday, Sept. 6 vs. Henderson State

Head coach Craig Case begins his second season at the helm of the A&M-Commerce volleyball program looking to build off 2010's 14-15 record. One cause of optimism for Case is the fact he has no seniors on this year's roster, meaning the team will have a full two seasons to play as a unit and build on each other's strengths. Case also mentioned the maturity of this year's team will hopefully prove to be a key component as the Lions, similar to soccer, will face each Lone Star Conference opponent both at the Field House and on the road.

While there may be no seniors on the roster, that doesn't mean there is a shortage of leadership for A&M-Commerce. The Lions return a pair of second team All-LSC players in setter Jordan Neal and middle blocker Rachel Robertson. Robertson led the team in kills in 2010 with 313 with a .285 attack percentage and 76 total blocks. Sophomore Kayla Bond added 207 kills and 46 blocks in her freshman campaign to add another returning offensive threat. Neal ranked fourth in the LSC in assists per set (8.91) while junior Reagan Hayes is the Lions' returning digs leader, notching 254 last season.

In addition, the men's and women's cross country teams are also gearing up for their season, which starts Sept. 1 at the Midwestern State Stampede in Wichita Falls. Men's and women's golf follows closely behind as well as the men open the year at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate in Abilene Sept. 12-13 while the women will compete at the Southwest Classic in Arlington those same dates.

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