This Week in Shark Athletics

Swimming and Diving
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams will return to action at the Sunshine State Conference Championships hosted in Orlando, Fla. Feb. 17-20 hosted by Rollins College. The men ended their year 4-1 with a third-place finish in the Shark Invitational and the SSC dual meets undefeated. The women finished third as well in the Shark Invitational hosted by NSU just over a month ago. With swimmers on both teams making “B” qualifying times earlier in the year, the season continues at Nationals.

Tennis
The NSU women’s tennis team continues its conference slate traveling to Tampa to battle the Spartans on Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. The Sharks hold a strong 9-1 all-time series edge over Tampa, while also shutting them out last season, 9-0, at the NSU Tennis Complex.

Women’s Golf
The NSU women’s golf team continues its quest for their third straight national crown, opening the 2011 spring season at the Lady Moc Invitational in Lakeland, Fla., hosted by Florida Southern College on Feb. 21-22. The Sharks ran away with the tournament last year, winning by 17 strokes. Senior Sandra Changkija won the individual title by seven strokes. First groups tee off at 8 a.m. on both days.

Baseball
The NSU baseball team steps onto the diamond five times this week, first traveling to Melbourne, Fla. on Feb. 22 to take on the Florida Tech Panthers at 2 p.m. NSU trails the Panthers 7-18 in the all-time series, but were able to rattle off two victories last season with Florida Tech being ranked in the national top-25 in both wins. The Sharks take a two day break before traveling across the Florida border for the first time in their young 2011 season to collide with West Alabama in a four-game series on Feb. 25 and 26 in Livingston, Ala. Both dates are doubleheaders with the Friday’s games beginning at 1 p.m. and Saturday’s games at 12 p.m. This is the first time these two teams have met on the diamond.

Softball
The NSU softball team heads to Clearwater, Fla. for its second tournament of the season, which is hosted by Eckerd College on from Feb. 25-27. The Sharks begin play in the tournament against UMass at 12 p.m. before turning around and playing Saint Leo at 2:30 p.m. in a non-conference game. NSU and UMass meet for the first time while the Sharks trail in the all-time series with Saint Leo 17-21, but swept the Lions last season, winning all four games. Less than 24 hours later NSU takes the field against tournament host Eckerd at 11 a.m. They turn right around after facing the Tritons and clash with the Flagler Saints at 1:30 p.m. the following Saturday. NSU swept the Tritons last season, winning all three games and own a commanding lead in the all-time series, 26-4. The Sharks suffered their first loss to Flagler last season, but lead the all-time series, 3-1. The Sharks will conclude the Eckerd College Tournament with games against West Florida and Lynn on Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. The Sharks split games against West Florida last season, and faced them twice already in the 2011 season. NSU swept Lynn last year in three games while owning a 27-21-1 all-time record against the Fighting Knights.

Women’s Basketball
The NSU women’s basketball team continues league play against Lynn on Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. for this year’s Think Pink game. The team will be sporting pink for the game, as they support breast cancer research. The Sharks lost to the Fighting Knights in Boca Raton, Fla. earlier this season, 64-56, on Jan. 19. NSU trails in the all-time series against LU, 9-13. The Sharks round out their regular season hosting the Florida Southern Mocs on senior day at the NSU Arena on Feb. 26 at 2 p.m. The Sharks lost to the Mocs earlier this season in Lakeland, Fla., 86-56, on Jan. 26, but are locked in the all-time series at 11-11.

Men’s Basketball
The NSU men’s basketball team continues SSC play hosting the Lynn University Fighting Knights on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The Sharks are 10-15 all time against the Fighting Knights, but won the previous meeting between the two teams, 78-69, in Boca Raton earlier this season on Jan. 19. NSU then caps its 2011 regular season hosting the Mocs of Florida Southern on Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. for senior day. The Sharks lost to the Mocs earlier this season in a nail biter, 85-81, in Lakeland, Fla. on Jan. 26 and also trail FSU 4-16 in the all-time series.