California University senior linebacker Gary Butler was named Defensive Player of the Year and John Luckhardt was named Coach of the Year as the Vulcans placed a school-record 16 players on the 2007 PSAC West Division football all-star squad Wednesday.

Butler is the fifth Vulcan, and the first defender, to be named PSAC West Player of the Year, and Luckhardt is the first Vulcan coach to be honored since the inception of the awards in 1985.

The Vulcans boast a school-record 12 players as first-team all-stars, including senior offensive lineman Tim McCutcheon, who became the first Vulcan to earn first-team recognition four times.

Joining McCutcheon on the first-team offense were junior running back Brandon Lombardy and senior wide receiver Nate Forse.

Six Vulcan defenders joined Butler in earning first-team honors, including junior linemen Kirby Griffin and Willie Walker, linebackers Brian Mohr and Darren Burns and cornerbacks Terrence Johnson and Dionte Henry.

Return specialist Jermaine Moye and punter Jace Amore were special teams representatives on the first-team squad.

Four Cal players were also named second-team PSAC West all-stars. Junior lineman John Testa, a Trinity graduate, and senior quarterback Joe Ruggiero earned second-team offensive honors. Defensively, linebacker Josh Zunic was honored Sophomore kicker Tyler was Cal's third special teams player chosen by the coaches.

Butler led the Cal defense that is ranked No. 1 in the country in rushing defense (49.1), total defense (188.6) and scoring defense (8.0). Butler ranked fourth on the team in total tackles (47) and led the Vulcans with nine sacks and 13 tackles for losses.

Jackets' Czerwien to play Aztec Bowl

Waynesburg University senior defensive end Mike Czerwien has been selected to play for the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) Division III all-star team that will represent the United States against the Mexican National Team in the 2007 Aztec Bowl Saturday, Dec. 8, in Chihuahua, Mexico.

He is the first Waynesburg player selected to participate in the Aztec Bowl.

Czerwien was named the Presidents' Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player this season in helping lead the Yellow Jackets to an 8-2 record and a berth in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southeast Bowl on Saturday. A four-time first-team all-conference selection, he finished the season with 79 tackles (55 solo) and led Division III with 33.5 tackles for loss (TFL) and 22.0 sacks.

He is one of 50 NCAA Division III seniors from around the country who will make up this year's team. Former Widener, Delaware Valley and LaSalle head coach Bill Manlove will coach this year's team.

Cal volleyball to play Fayetteville State

The California University women's volleyball team is making its fourth-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championship Tournament, and seventh in the last eight years. But for the first time, the Vulcans will be the top seed and the host of the event.

The Vulcans, who won their second PSAC championship in the last three years, will host the eight-team regional and meet eighth-seeded Fayetteville State (N.C.) in Thursday's quarterfinal round match, beginning at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Friday's semifinal matches will begin at 5 p.m. and the championship set for Saturday at 7 p.m.

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