PAC women's basketball preview

Three-time defending champion Thomas More and Washington & Jefferson have dominated Presidents' Athletic Conference women's basketball in recent seasons. They've combined to win the last four PAC titles. In the preseason poll of coaches, sports information directors and media members, W&J was picked to win the title this year with Thomas More the No. 2 selection. Early results show the picks seem to be on the mark as W&J and Thomas More are the only undefeated teams in the PAC.

Conference plays begins tonight. Geneva is at W&J in a game that does not count in the standings because of Geneva's provisional status in NCAA Division III. Waynesburg begins its PAC schedule at Chatham.

The following is a preview of each team, in predicted order of finish in the preseason poll:

1. Washington & Jefferson
Coach: Jina DeRubbo (6th at W&J - 245-90 career)
Current record: 4-0. Ranked No. 19 in NCAA Division III
Last year: 24-5
Outlook: The Presidents posted a school-record 24 wins last season and advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament before losing to powerful Hope in the first round. W&J returns three senior starters in guards Kennan Killeen, Stephanie Smith and Maggie Gibson, pictured, the latter a two-time first-team all-PAC selection. Freshman guard Alyssa Oursler (12.0 ppg, 93 percent FT) has been a big addition so far. Opponents are shooting only 33 percent against the Presidents.
Quotable: "We have a lot of experience. Maggie is a great defender and one of the best rebounders int he country. Kennan is an outstanding point guard and Stephanie’s ability to hit open shots from the outside make Kennan and Maggie that much better," DeRubbo says.

2. Thomas More
Coach: Brian Neal (6th year - 119-26 career)
Current record: 4-0. Ranked No. 13.
Last year: 28-3
Outlook: The Saints will be hard-pressed to match last year's record, which included PAC regular-season and tournament championships and a trip to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. Gone are four starters from that team, but the cupboard is hardly bare. Nine letterwinners return including center Nicole Dickman, a first-team all-conference pick. Freshmen Chelsea Tolliver (12.3 ppg) and Allison Long (11.8 ppg) have helped pick up some of the scoring burden. Still a work in progress but definitely is capable of winning a fourth consecutive PAC title.
Quoteable: "Roster turnover is what makes college sports special -- you have to keep proving yourself and overcoming turnover. Obviously, we're short on experience, we're smaller and we don't have any Division I transfers. ... We want to win the PAC, advance to the national tournament and win a national title. But, our focus is currently on working hard and improving. If we do those things, the wins and the hardware will take care of themselves," Neal says.

3. Grove City
Head coach: Sarah Harris (4th year - 28-55 career)
Current record: 1-3
Last year: 11-15
Outlook: The big change with the Wolverines is the roster has nearly doubled in size. Grove City had only eight healthy bodies last year but managed to win 11 games despite having little depth. Seven players and 80 percent of the scoring is back from last season but the Wolverines will be undersized despite the addition of 5-11 Alison Wells, a transfer from Middlebury. Christine Slater, who led GC in scoring and rebounding last season, is back and averaging nearly a double-double. The Wolverines, however, have made only six of 44 three-pointers so far yet are coming off an 18-point win over previously undefeated Carnegie Mellon.
Quoteable: "We're learning how to deal with high expectations. The players are coming back with goals and that has upped the ante," Harris says.

4. Westminster
Head coach: Rosanne Scott (8th year - 102-94 career)
Last year: 8-17
Current record: 1-4
Outlook: The Titans had a fall of unexpected proportions last season under Scott, an under-rated head coach. Westminster expects to be back near the top of the PAC this year but so far the results haven't been encouraging. The Titans have lost three games by five points or less and suffered a 30-point loss to Capital, a team W&J defeated by eight. As expected, Amy Dolsak (16.0 ppg) has been the focal point of the offense but the Titans need another reliable scorer. The biggest problem has been ballhandling as the Titans have committed a whopping 135 turnovers with only 45 assists.
Quoteable: "Last year's record changed the attitude and work ethic of our players. They're determined to change things around," Scott says.

5. Bethany
Head coach: Rebecca Upton (6th year - 58-77 career)
Last year: 15-12
Current record: 1-3
Outlook: Bethany is young -- very young. There are no seniors and only one junior on the roster. The Bison have only two of their top eight scorers returning. Scoring, however, hasn't been much of a problem so far as Bethany is averaging 66 points per game. Statistically, Bethany has played better than its 1-3 record indicates. The one trouble spot, as you might expect with a team in transition, is too many turnovers. The Bison are minus-17 in turnover ratio. Sophomore Katelynn Hackathorn (11.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) appears to be one of the most improved players in the conference and freshman guard Kayla Taormina (10.3 ppg), from Quigley High School, has been a pleasant surprise.
Quoteable: "We'll be a different team from last year. ... The whole season is going to be about growth and learning." Upton says.

6. Waynesburg
Head coach: Sam Jones (2nd year - 9-20 career)
Last year: 8-18
Current record: 1-2
Outlook: Jones, in his first season, did one of the best coaching jobs in the league, winning eight games with a team that won only one game in 2007-08 season. There are only two seniors on the roster. Jones brought in 10 newcomers and that might be a good thing. Elisha Jones (13.0 ppg) led Waynesburg in scoring last season and is off a good start. Point guard Hannah Hunter is shooting 88 percent from the free-throw line. This is a mystery team. It's only win has come over a terrible Penn State-Greater Allegheny team but the Yellow Jackets had an 11-point halftime lead at Adrian before losing.
Quoteable: "I'm excited about the depth our 10 newcomers gives us. There are no guarantees. We're working hard to get better and we're going to come out fighting. I hope we one at home this year after going 0-7 last year," Jones says.

7. Chatham
Head coach: Mark Katarski (5th year - 37-72 career)
Last year: 11-15
Current record: 3-2
Outlook: The Cougars have increased their win total in every season under Katarski and are off to a good start, having won their own tip-off tournament. With the exception of W&J and Thomas More, this is the most experienced team in the conference. Four starters return and three players who took medical redshirts last season are back. The Cougars have four players averaging in double figures, led by Courtney Smith (12.0 ppg). Kayla Hilko is averaging 17 points over her last two games. The big problem for Chatham is it has attempted 39 fewer free throws than its opponents through five games.

8. Thiel
Head coach: Angie Zeuch (1st year)
Last year: 11-15
Current record: 2-3
Outlook: You might expect that with a new coach in and high-scoring Amber Bodrick graduated, this might be a trying season for the Tomcats. However, they've already won two games and Kelly Barzak (13.0 ppg) has shown an ability to score. The Tomcats won't shoot nearly as many three-pointers (21 in five games) as when Bodrick was around, but they've shown an ability to get to the free-throw line.
Quoteable: "We're young, for sure, with only one senior. ... Having graduated some key players from last year’s team, fans and opponents will see a new look. With commitment, hard work, and team pride, we'll be ready to build a successful and exciting season," Zeuch says.

The others
Geneva and Saint Vincent will play a full PAC schedules but the results will not count in the standings as each team is not yet eligible for the league title. Geneva (currently 2-3) returns four starters from last year's 9-15 team but gone is coach Ron Galbreath, who retired in the offseason. Saint Vincent (3-1) is young but talented. The Bearcats scored 114 points in their season opener.

PAC men's basketball preview

Thomas More turned in a rare double play last year in basketball, winning both the Presidents' Athletic Conference men's and women's championships. It should be tougher this time around for the Saints, who suffered some big losses to graduation and have a new head coach on the men's side. The following is a preview of the Presidents' Athletic Conference men's teams in predicted order of finish, according to the conference's preseason poll:

1. Thomas More
Head coach: Jeff Rogers (1st year)
Last year: 102- in conference, 19-9 overall. Won PAC tournament. Lost to Capital in first round of NCAA tournament.
Outlook: The Saints put together one of the best stories in Division III basketball last year, going from worst (3-23 two years ago) to conference champion. head coach John Ellwood is gone, leaving for the same job at Division II Ashland. Also gone are four starters. Jeff Rogers, the Saints' assistant coach last season, moves over one spot on the bench this year so there won't be much of a change int he team's style of play. Senior point guard Romell Salone (9.9 ppg) is the only returning starter but the Saints' reserves last season logged more minutes than those of most teams. Thomas More has 13 newcomers on the roster including six transfers. With a new coach and so many new players, there's bound to be a period of adjustment. But the Saints will be tough to beat, especially at home, where they were 12-2 last year.

2. Washington & Jefferson
Head coach: Glenn Guierrez (4th year - 48-38 career)
Last year: 7-5, 20-10. Won ECAC South Division championship.
Outlook: The Presidents' inside game took a huge hit with the graduation of Josip Lucic-Jozak and Wahad Olawabi. Both were first-team all-conference picks last year and 1,000-point career scorers. Look for a larger scoring burden to fall to swingmen Albert Varacallo (10.1 ppg) and Brian Felker, pictured, (11.3 ppg). Also back is point guard Matt Drakeley (7.2 ppg). Guard Paul Matthews, who transferred from Hampden-Sydney for the second semester of last season but played in only two games with the Presidents, should have a much larger role this season. “These four players are as good as anyone else’s four in the conference," Gutierrez said. The Presidents will play good defense and shoot well from the perimeter. If they can hold their own on the boards, then they'll have a good shot at winning the conference championship.

3. Bethany
Head coach: Andrew Sachs (1st year)
Last year: 9-3, 17-12
Outlook: Sachs, who comes to Bethany from Holy Cross, is the Bison's third coach in three seasons. Bethany has a Washington County look as the roster includes senior Joe Testa (Trinity), senior Jonas Ankrom (Canon-McMillan), freshman Nick Wilcox (Peters Township) and freshman Nick Bryant (Washington). Gone is Lance Beckwith, a first-team all-PAC pick who played only one season with the Bison. Testa and junior Ryan McFadden give Bethany two returning starters inside. Ankrom, who sat out last season with an injury, is a good perimeter shooter. Expect Wilcox to make an immediate impact. With so much coaching turnover, you expect there to be a period of adjustment. if the Bison can adapt quickly to Sachs' style and schemes, then the Bison will be a dangerous team.

4. Grove City
Head coach: Steve Lamie (12th year - 156-132 career)
Last year: 6-6, 12-13
Outlook: The Wolverines have three returning starters, including 6-7 Andy O'Keefe (12.8 ppg), fifth-year senior Joe McCoy (11.0 ppg) and three reserves who combined to make 10 starts a year ago. Guard Luke Tomaselli, who missed last season because of injury, also returns. When Lamie is given that kind of experience, he usually produces a team that contends for the conference title. The key will be developing a reliable group of reserves to help what should be a strong starting lineup. Though picked fourth in the preseason poll, don't count out the Wolverines.

5. Westminster
Head coach: Larry Ondako (7th year - 76-85 career)
Last year: 7-5, 10-17
Outlook: Westminster hopes the strides it made during the second half of last season carry over to this year. The Titans started last year 1-11, their worst start ever with the one win coming against eventual league champion Thomas More. Westminster was resilient and won nine of its last 16. A similar start could be coming as Ryne Murray, the reigning PAC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring (20.2) and rebounding (10.4), won't play until mid-December because he has only one semester of eligibility remaining. Until then, the Titans will rely on sophomore Ron Briggs (7.6 ppg) and senior Steve Bielich (10.7 ppg), the latter a three-year starter who has been injury riddled.

6. Thiel
Head coach: Tim Loomis (4th year)
Last year: 1-11, 2-23
Outlook: Loomis, the former California University coach, called last year's disaster of a season "the toughest I've ever gone through." By the beginning of the second semester, the Tomcats had lost six of its top eight players. But don't expect Thiel to be down for long. The Tomcats could be the surprise team of the league. Loomis has gutted the roster and brought in several impact players, including three transfers, to go with guards Devon Adams (11.2 ppg) and Cory Chaffee (11.1 ppg). The Tomcats will do more pressing and trapping on defense. "We'll be able to stop people this year," Loomis says. Look for Youngstown State transfer Blair Rozenbald to make a significant contribution.

7. WaynesburgHead coach: Frank Ferraro (7th year - 62-83 career)
Last year: 2-10, 6-19.
Outlook: Like most of Waynesburg's athletic teams, this program has struggled in recent years. The Yellow Jackets have seen their win total drop in each of the last three seasons. Last year's 19 losses were the most for Waynesburg since 1968-69 -- the season before Rudy Marisa became the Yellow Jackets' coach. Waynesburg has nine players returning but only two starters, junior Ryan Courneen (13.0 ppg) and senior point guard Jarrell Rodriguez (5.6 ppg). The Yellow Jackets have been undersized for many years and that won't change this season. The big preseason question is, other than Courneen, who is going to provide scoring?

Geneva
Head coach: Jeff Santarsiero (14th year)
Last year: 0-0, 8-17
Outlook: Geneva is not eligible to win the conference championship. The Golden Tornadoes had an unexpected poor season last year and defense was the primary reason as Geneva allowed a whopping 81 points per game. Four starters return, including the top two scorers Richard Colick 916.0 ppg) and Dave Phillips (13.6 ppg). Also back is long-range shooter Bryan Hill (11.1 ppg), who was limited only seven games because a knee injury and a bout with mono. T.J. Bevilacqua, a 6-5 swingman, is a transfer from Illinois Tech, and should be an impact newcomer. The Golden Tornadoes have the potential to be vastly improved, but it all depends on their ability to stop opponents. "We're all about defense this year," Santarsiero said. Geneva plays at Division I Youngstown State Nov. 24.

Saint Vincent
Head coach: D. P. Harris (7th year - 125-40 career)
Last year: 0-0, 22-3
Outlook: Saint Vincent is not eligible to win the conference championship. The Bearcats, who are in their final season as a Division III provisional member, are coming off a 22-win season but that was accomplished with several holders from the Bearcats' schoalrship days. Four starters who combined for 71 percent of the offense have graduated. The lone returning starter is guard B.J. McGill (11.5 ppg). Mike Watkins (Ringgold) gives the bearcats an inexperienced 6-8 player in the low post. Saint Vincent must get immediate production from several newcomers, the most interesting of which is 6-11 center Alberto Benetti from Verona, Italy. The Bearcats enter the season with a 27-game home-court winning streak. We're going to play fast and we're going to press," Harris said. "We're kidding our selves if we think we're going to put together another 22-win season. We're looking forward to next year so we can compete for a conference championship."

W&J nets PAC women's soccer title

Freshman midfielder Chrissy Marcius scored the game's only goal as Washington & Jefferson successfully defended its Presidents' Athletic Conference women's soccer championship by defeating host Grove City, 1-0, in the tournament final Saturday.

The Presidents (12-6-2) earned their first win at Grove City since the 2005 season and receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament for the second consecutive season. For the second year in a row, W&J won both its semifinal and championship matches on the road.

Third-seeded W&J and top-seeded GCC (11-6-3) played a scoreless first half with the Wolverines holding a 7-3 advantage in shots, while W&J held the slight edge in corner kicks, 2-1.

The Wolverines continued to hold an edge in the stat sheet in the second half, but Marcius converted on a scoring opportunity in the 60th minute for the only goal the Presidents would need.

W&J sophomore goalie Stephanie Saussol held the Wolverines off the scoreboard the rest of the way and finished with 10 saves. Saussol recorded her sixth shutout of the season.

The NCAA will release the tournament bracket Monday morning.

Sadler gets PAC honor

Bethany College freshman goalkeeper Brittany Sadler, pictured, has been selected as the Presidents' Athletic Conference Women's Soccer Defensive/Goalkeeper of the Week.

Sadler, New Eagle native and Ringgold High School graduate, helped the Bison (4-2-1) to a win and tie last week. In a road match at NCAA Division II Seton Hill, Sadler made nine of her career-high 13 saves in the second half as Bethany held on for a 2-1 victory over the Griffins, who made the WVIAC tournament semifinals a season ago.

On Sunday, Sadler recorded her third shutout in a 0-0 double-overtime draw with visiting Hilbert (N.Y.) College.