Around the Ohio Valley - January 25

Austin Peay

As the Govs baseball team prepares for the season, multiple players are already receiving honors. Junior second baseman, Jordan Hankins, was named Preseason Field Player of the Year by CollegeSportsMadness.com, while Reed Harper and Cody Hudson were also recognized by being selected to the first team all conference team. Pitcher, Ryan Quick, joins his teammates as he was selected as a second team pitcher.

Belmont

With baseball season just weeks away, the Belmont Bruins find themselves aiming toward a third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The last two seasons Belmont earned a bid by winning the Atlantic Sun Tournament. This year will be their first season competing in the Ohio Valley Conference, and they are receiving votes in the top 25 preseason poll. Belmont opens their season on February 15 at Rose Park in Nashville in a match up with Valparaiso.

Eastern Illinois

EIU wide receiver, Erik Lora, sweeps the FCS All-American teams after being named to the College Sporting News 2012 Fabulous 50 FCS All-American Team. Lora earned first team honors this year from Sports Network, AFCA, Associated Press and Walter Camp after after setting the FCS single-season reception record at 136 for 1,664 yards. 

Eastern Kentucky

12 of the 15 Colonel athletic teams finished the 2012 fall semester with an average GPA of 3.0 or higher. This marks the best academic semester for EKU student athletes since the turn of the century. The women tennis team topped the list of team with an average GPA of 3.69. 45 student athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Jacksonville State

Gamecock freshman defensive back, Jermaine Hough, has been named to the College Sports Journal Freshman All-American Football Team. Hough played in all 11 games, and finished the season with 42 tackles, 29 of which were solo and led the team with 3 interceptions, 11 passes defended, and 8 pass breakups. 

Morehead State

When Super Bowl XLVII kicks off in New Orleans, the Morehead State Community will have much to be proud of. The game marks the first time two brother’s will coach against each other, and one of the brothers coaching experience can be traced back to Morehead State. John Harbaugh coached the Eagle special teams and defensive backs, as well as serving as the strength and conditioning coordinator in 1988 before moving on to Cincinnati.

Murray State

Racer freshman, Erika Sisk, takes home her third consecutive Freshman of the Week Honor. Sisk help the team to two victories last week while averaging 16 point per game, and tied her career-high with 26 points in a game against SIU Edwardsville. She and the rest of the Racer women will look to win a third straight game as they travel to Jacksonville State on Saturday.

Southeast Missouri

As opening day for baseball creeps closer, preseason awards are being awarded. Southeast Missouri junior outfielder, Derek Gibson, was named to the Preseason First Team All-OVC by College Sports Madness on Tuesday morning. In 2012, Gibson Finished the season with a .338 batting average, 7 homeruns, and 38 RBIs. He finished 3^rd in the OVC with 31 RBIs in conference play. 

SIUE

Tierny Austin has become a stand out sophomore on the lady Cougars basketball team.  She and her coaches attribute her success to the hard work and dedication she has shown throughout the preseason workouts, and that has continued on into the regular season practices and games. "After preseason workouts, she would always come in and want to shoot extra. She has worked on her game tirelessly, and it has showed," said SIUE Head Coach Paula Buscher. Austin is second on the team in scoring average and first in minutes played per game, field goal percentage, steals, free throws made, and blocks. 

Tennessee State

For TSU, Super Bowl XLVII is not just a match up of Harbaughs. Tiger fans will find names they may recognize on each roster. Lamar Divens, who left TSU as an undrafted free agent, finds himself on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad for this match up. Anthony Levine, a former safety for the Tigers, is currently on the Ravens injured reserve list. No matter the outcome, a Tiger will be guaranteed a ring.

Tennessee Tech

At Saturday’s doubleheader against Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech fans will be asked by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee to give generously to the Ohio Valley Conference initiative “Hoops for Heroes.” The initiative involves student athletes on OVC campus as they raise money in association with the Wounded Warriors Project to bring Veterans and their families to the OVC Tournament.  

UT Martin

Skyhawks senior defensive lineman, Montori Hughes, will play in the Senior Bowl Saturday January 26 in Mobile, Alabama. Hughes is currently ranked as the 19^th best Defensive Tackle entering the 2013 draft by ESPN. He finished the regular season with 42 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. The game kicks at 3:00pm CST and will air on NFL Network.