Old favorites, new guard ready

Maryland-Eastern Shore

Noting UMES:  The defending national champions return two All-Americans in Columbia native Anggie Ramirez and Paula Vilas from the Dominican Republic. However, they also lose three All-Americans in Kristina Frahm, Maria Rodriguez and Martha Perez — a trio that combined for 10 All-American nods during their collegiate careers. “We return some great players and have some great new ones, but our three seniors were a part of three national championships and will be hard to replace,”  head coach Sharon Brummel said. Ramirez averaged 202 last season and this season has been named the preseason MEAC Player of the Year. The Lady Hawks were chosen first in the NTCA preseason rankings with 11 first-place votes.

Vanderbilt

Noting Vanderbilt: The Commodores have four players back from last year’s squad which lost in the national championship match. They include Brittni Hamilton, Vanderbilt’s 2010-11 female athlete of the year, Jessica Earnest and Samantha Hesley, two stalwarts that earned All-America honors a year ago, and junior Sarah O’Brien, who had corrective hip surgery a little more than a year ago, but returned and competed in the NCAA tournament. She had a second procedure right after the tournament but is back and expected to be a big contributor this season. The Commodores also say hello to freshman Nicole Mosesso, who was last year’s Alberta E. Crowe award winner, given to the nation’s top high school player.

Fairleigh Dickinson

Noting FDU: The Knights won the ultra-competitive Northeast Conference last year with a 111-21 record and they’ve advanced to the national semifinals four times in the past seven years, winning the championship twice. The Knights return five from the 2010-11 NCAA Final Four team including All-Americans Danielle McEwan and Joely Carrillo. McEwan is the reigning NEC Bowler of the Year. “We are a very proud program, and like every season, we have high expectations for the upcoming season,” head coach Mike Lopresti said.   

Others to Watch:  Central Missouri, Arkansas State, Nebraska, Kutztown, Sam Houston State, Sacred Heart, New Jersey City.