The year 2010 has been kind to the Lady Blazers basketball team. After all, they have lost just twice in the calendar year and this past summer their head coach, Kiley Hill, was named the conferences Coach of the Decade.
 Unfortunately for VSU, both of their losses in 2010 have came against rival Delta State—once in the Gulf South Conference tournament and once in the NCAA South Regional tournament, which ended the ladies season this past March. 
 And now with the 2010-11 season lurking in the near future, Hill and his Lady Blazers basketball team have their meeting with the Lady Statesmen on Dec. 14 circled on their calendars.
 “I’d be fibbing to you if I didn’t say that wasn’t on especially our returners radar,” Hill said. “Our new kids don’t have a clue right now about it. Our focus is that we become the best team that we can be and then Dec. 14 gets here as soon as we blink, then we are going to do some things.”
 Although VSU is looking forward to their matchup in Cleveland, Miss., with their hated rival, the Lady Blazers must focus on the stretch of the season that gave them trouble in 2009, the beginning of the year.
 Last season the Lady Blazers crawled out to a 4-9 record to begin the season and, fortunately for Hill, his team rebounded and was able to record 15 straight wins and win the GSC East Division with a perfect 10-0 record.
 Much like last season, the Lady Blazers are set to be challenged early in the year, as they welcome Edward Waters to town on Nov. 13 before heading to Fort Valley State University on the Nov. 16.
 Last season VSU took down FVSU in the opening round of the South Region Tournament with a game winning shot from guard Amanda Haven with just six seconds to play. The loss for FVSU ended their season and moved VSU on to the second round.
 “Well that has to be a factor (for this season),” Hill said. “Of course we have been down that road before so that was our motivation. Of course they’ve been a perennial powerhouse in the SIAC, I think they’re going to be ready to come play us, but so are we.”
 Following a home and away with Tampa on Nov. 20 and Dec. 1 along with an away contest on Nov. 23 against Columbus State, the Lady Blazers will then host the Days INNvitational at the Complex, where VSU will take on Georgia Southwestern and Talladega on Dec. 4 and 5.
 After their highly anticipated game with Delta State on Dec. 14, VSU returns to Georgia to take on the Golden Rams of Albany State on Dec. 17 before heading home to take on Fort Valley State on Dec. 19.
 After 11 days away from the game court due to the Christmas holiday, the Lady Blazers return to action on Dec. 30 when they welcome Saint Leo to the Complex.
 The Lady Blazers will start the 2011 calendar year with one the toughest contest of the season when they travel to Orlando, Fla. to take on Division-I opponent Central Florida.
 Following their matchup with the UCF and a home contest against Albany State on Jan. 10, VSU jumps into the conference schedule, which makes 12 of the final 13 games on the schedule, with the only non-conference game coming against Concordia College on Feb. 15.
 Following the conclusion of the regular season on Feb. 26, the Lady Blazers could earn a trip to the conference tournament on Mar. 2-6 along with a trip to the NCAA tournament, which is set to begin on Mar. 11.