At GRR World Headquarters we have the feeling that the next two years might be pivotal for NIRA as the organization makes its way to the magic number of 40 NCAA programs.

This first week is a nice start to that period with a few teams that were still COVID-affected in 2021 back in action, and some new faces.

Among those notable new faces is Princeton, coming into their first season as an NCAA varsity program and facing Sacred Heart in their league opener. Newberry and Guilford face off; this is Guilford's first really full season and Head Coach Jeff Horton has a solid freshman class, plus a transfer, to help him build the program. He's got some size too as Wayne State transfer Portiastar Jones, and multiple Rugby Ohio champion Savannah Marchinsky (Brunswick) are both experience and stand six feet tall.

Newberry is freshman-heavy also and Head Coach Emily Rokskopf has been able to draw from the talent throughout South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Tennessee. She does have players from as far away as Colorado and Idaho. 

As those teams get going, Roskopf's alma mater, Quinnipiac, hosts Brown is a matchup to watch. Brown is coming in with a new coaching staff after the tragic loss of Head Coach Kathy Flores to cancer last fall. New Head Coach Ros Chou, formerly of Life University, has a fairly young side that will need leadership from Mahdia Parker, Emerson Goodrich, Erin Jessop, and Kate Molloy. Hosts Quinnipiac lost the last meeting between these two, but Head Coach Becky Carlson and her charges will remember that one.

The Bobcats have a ton of power and experience up front and are in good shape to win the physical battle. Junior fullback Kat Storey is one to watch. This is certainly a bit of a bellwether game on who might challenge in DI.

(Note also AIC had a midweek warmup game against New Haven and the defending DII NCAA National Champs won comfortably. See Video>>)