With the end of the semester fast approaching, the NAIA men’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams are well on their way to kicking and spiking up their fall seasons.

Both teams now have head coaches, have held tryout sessions, and are both looking to the future. Renovations to the soccer field have begun and are set to be completed by Aug. 1 and the additions to the court will be made before the beginning of the fall semester.

“Everything is going very well,” said Athletic Director Jack Hank. “It’s now just a matter of getting our ducks in a row for the fall.”

Head coach Shane Hurley and the men’s soccer team are almost ready to end their open tryouts and have scheduled an official tryout date for Aug. 6. According to Hurley, the team has about 60 different potential prospects for the team. By early May he plans to have cut the team down to between 25 and 30 players.

“Things are going just fine,” Hurley said. “We are just wrapping up our recruitment process.”

Mark Lee, volleyball head coach and the latest addition to the OLLU athletic staff, held his first wave of tryouts earlier this semester and has scheduled another set for later on. According to Lee, the team had about 20 people turn out for the first set of tryouts. The final roster will include between 15 and 20 members and will be finalized when practices begin in August.

“My plans for the future of the team are to work hard and do our best,” Lee said.

Hank is working on the business side of this new addition the Lake family and is “actively pursuing community opportunities to raise funds for the Athletic Department,” he said.

The teams are still waiting on word of their acceptance into the Red River Conference. Although they are entering as independent teams they are going to be eligible for post-season play.

The Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Student Government Association, are also holding a contest to select names for the NAIA teams. Everyone is encouraged to pick up an entry form at the Student Life Office (Providence 104) or get one online and submit their suggestions.

All submissions are due March 30 by 5 p.m. in the Student Life Office. Entries will be reviewed by a
committee and then options will be given to the Lake Community to vote on. The top three entries will receive prizes of $150, $75 and $50.