CHARLOTTE – The hardwood courts at all eleven CIAA institutions are about to get busy as the CIAA officially welcomed the season with the 2009-10 CIAA Basketball Press Conference and Luncheon this afternoon. After a warm welcoming from CIAA Commissioner, Leon Kerry, event MC Stan Lewter went to work announcing preseason team ranks and preseason All-CIAA teams for both the men's and women's sides. The Hawks will have much to prove as new members of the basketball-storied league playing in their inaugural season. Despite no Chowan players being named to the All-CIAA Preseason Teams and being preseason picked at the bottom of the division, both Chowan head coaches are hoping to RISE ABOVE, this year's CIAA Championship slogan.

Head Women's Coach, Patrick Mashuda, and his squad were preseason picked #6 in the CIAA Western Division. Mashuda, at 0-4 against CIAA opponents last year in non-conference play, understands the obstacles of playing in such a competitive league from the top down.

“This is a tremendous opportunity, to play in the CIAA, and having said that, that opportunity comes with tremendous challenges. We didn't experience much success against CIAA opponents a year ago,” stated Mashuda during his allotted press time. “This year we will be led by our junior class and with only one player on the roster over 5'10'' we are not stout in size. But I hope that we can overcome that with stout hearts and competitive play.”

The women's team wrapped up last season 11-15 overall. The program graduated two players in Alicia McMorris  and Acquanette Simmons but return two starters in Najah Harris and Brittany Nicholson. Both starters will have back up this year from a versatile Ransheeda Jennings, who came off the bench as the team's sixth-player a year ago. The Hawks will have Taylor Hughes back to help firm up the paint but October 15^th (opening day of team practice) will begin the process of filling in the top five players for the Hawks this season.

Even with all five starters back from a year ago, the men's team was also preseason picked 6^th in the CIAA Western Division. Head Coach Jim Tribbett understands the quality of competition he will face this season on his schedule. The Hawks went 4-3 against CIAA opponents in non-conference match ups a year ago.

“I am excited about being associated with such a fine conference. At Chowan we hope to develop relationships with coaches and teams which will be good for Northeastern North Carolina and the town of Murfreesboro,” stated Tribbett. “The one thing I know, the CIAA has  had a tradition of having quality players and coaches that have playing for national championships. This is my favorite team in 25 years of coaching. They like to practice, they like to compete, and most importantly they allow us to coach them. We know there will be some thrilling winter nights this year.”

The Hawks return three seniors in Jaleel Nelson, Lando Morrison, and Nate Walchuk. Nelson returns as the team's top scorer and hit shots from the floor at over 50% as a guard. Morrison and a healthy Layth Mansour will help sure up the paint positions for Chowan this year. Walchuk led the team last year from the point guard position while Mark Brown proved to be one of the team's top performers last year.

Both team's schedules boast 22 CIAA games and they get at it early, opening the season on November 16^th at the Helms Center with Eastern Division foe, Virginia State University. The women will play Belmont-Abbey College and the Apprentice School in non-conference play this season along with their CIAA league games. The men will play Catawba at home and on the road as well as travel to the NCCU-BC Powder Classic in January to go with their 22 league-game schedule.

In attendance at the press conference also for Chowan is Director of Athletics, Dennis Helsel. “It's a great honor for Chowan University to join forces with the CIAA. The CIAA takes a front seat to all other basketball tournaments in the nation. Affiliation with the CIAA only forces us to get better and sets the bar high for Chowan athletics,” said Helsel.

For more information on the CIAA Preseason Press Conference and all preseason ranks and teams, log onto www.theciaa.com. Find the video stream of the conference at the league site as well .