Jackson, MS-The Belhaven fall sports teams are getting ready for the start of what should be a very exciting season. Two a day practices are well under way as football, men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, and men's and women's cross country are all preparing for their season openers. A detailed season preview for each sport will soon be posted on the athletics website, but the following is a quick sneak peak at what's in store for the fall sports season.

Football
Expectations are higher for the 2010 season as the Belhaven football program looks to take the next step and battle for a Mid-South Conference championship. It's certainly safe to say that the Blazers and Head Coach Joe Thrasher got things rolling in the right direction in 2009 finishing the year with an overall record of 6-5 and took second place in the Mid-South Conference Western Division with a mark of 4-2. It was the programs first winning season since 2006 and a vast improvement over the teams 2-9 finish in 2008.

“I very proud of what we were able to accomplish last season, but at the same time not satisfied,” says Head Coach Joe Thrasher. “I want our players to strive for more in competing for conference championships, working towards getting into the playoffs, and it's our job as coaches to recruit and prepare these young men to be successful on the field and in the classroom.”

The Blazers open the year at Texas College August 28th starting at 6:00 PM. The football page can be viewed by clicking here.

Men's Soccer
The Belhaven men's soccer team is gearing up for the 2010 season following a disappointing finish to the 2009 campaign. The Blazers tournament trail a year ago came to an abrupt end at the hands of the University of Mobile in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals. Belhaven ended the year with an overall record of 10-4-2 and were ranked as high as 19th during the season in the NAIA Top 25 Poll thanks to one of the toughest schedules in the country. Last year's disappointment in the GCAC tournament will be even more motivation to reach higher heights in 2010.

“We have a lot of talent on this year's team,” says Coach DeCou. “On paper it may be the best team that I have had here at Belhaven. “However, a big key for us to have a good season is team chemistry and how the players take to their roles on the team. A number of the players coming in have been the stars of their previous team, but with the talent we have will a different role to play here. Having good team chemistry is one of the things we have done very well here with everybody on the same page and heading in the same direction.”

Belhaven will face the University of Texas at Brownsville in Hattiesburg, MS on August 27th at 5:00 PM. The men's soccer page can be viewed by clicking here.

Women's Soccer
The Belhaven women's soccer team is making their final preparations for the opening volley of the 2010 season. The Blazers finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 7-7-3 and 2-1-1 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. Belhaven earned a trip to the GCAC tournament semifinals for the second consecutive season and garnered a spot in the NAIA Unaffiliated regional tournament. The Blazers expect to set the bar even higher in 2010.

“Last season we lost seven starting seniors who are going to be hard to replace,” says Head Coach Josue Sabillon. “However, we picked up six junior college transfers and four key freshmen during the offseason and we will have a strong junior class to help us in maintaining and continuing the success achieved so far. This team will have a blue collar-hardworking mentality enabling us to be both physically and mentally tough. In order to successfully compete in the Southern States Athletic Conference and be prepared, we will need a mental toughness and individual tenacity that comes only from working hard as a team. I have faith and expect that this group of players is going to exceed their individual and team expectations.”

The Blazers get the 2010 campaign underway at home against Louisiana College with a 5:00 PM kickoff at H.T. Newell Field. The women's soccer team can be viewed by clicking here.

Volleyball
The Belhaven volleyball team has high hopes for the 2010 season following a solid 2009 season that saw the team make some big strides. The Blazers finished last season with an overall record of 18-20 doubling their 2008 win total. In the always tough Gulf Coast Athletic Conference, the Blazers finished 2009 with a 5-5 league record including an upset win over rival Loyola University. Belhaven will have a load of talent returning for 2010 and will be joined by seven new faces from this year's recruiting class.

One of the keys this year will be generating good team chemistry especially with seven of the 14 players on the roster being new. “Team chemistry is going to be huge for us this season,” says Head Coach Lydia Smith. “I think that leadership will also be a key for us this year and I'm looking to our upper classmen to step up and help lead this team. I feel like the team will gel and the teams chemistry will develop quicker when the team captains and upper classmen are helping to lead the younger players on the court. I feel like leadership is probably the biggest key with team chemistry following at a close second.”

The Blazers will take part in the Xavier University (LA) Tri-Match to open the year on August 28th with matches against Xavier and Alabama State University beginning at 3:00 PM. The volleyball page cn be viewed by clicking here.

Cross Country
The Belhaven men's and women's cross country teams are ready to embark on the 2010 season after another very successful 2009 campaign. For the second year in a row the program sent runners to the NAIA National meet in Vancouver, WA. Belhaven hopes to keep that streak alive in 2010.

“We are excited about this season and are expecting great things from our men's team in 2010,” says Head Coach Christie Barber who begins her 11th season at Belhaven. “I'm excited about the talented runners we have returning this year and the recruits that we were able to bring in. Peter Davis has been running hard this summer and shows great promise for us and could be our top runner.”

“This year's women's team will have some new faces, but I am excited about the talent we have assembled,” says Coach Barber. “Reese is a strong competitor and I am impressed by the new runners that we have this year including Storment who ran very well in the state meet this past spring. For both the men and the women, our goals are to compete for a Southern States Athletic Conference championship and to once again be represented at the NAIA National meet.”

The Belhaven men and women will both open the season on August 28th when they compete at the Lee University Invitational in Cleveland, TN. Click here for the men's cross country page and click here for the women's cross country page.

Fans can follow each team all season long by logging on to blazers.belhaven.edu.