GVSU lacrosse ranks eighth and ninth in preseason polls

After being eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament last season, the Grand Valley State women’s lacrosse team is ranked in the top-10 in two preseason polls. The Lakers rank eighth in the IWLCA Division II preseason poll, voted by Division II coaches, and ninth in the Nike-US Lacrosse preseason poll.

Rounding out the top seven is Florida Southern, Adelphi, Le Moyne, LIU Post, Lindenwood, Rollins and West Chester. Following the Lakers in the IWLCA poll is Queens and Mercyhurst. No other GLIAC team is in the top-20.

Last season, the Lakers finished with a 15-5 record, going 11-1 in GLIAC play. As is typical for GVSU, the Lakers will face a number of top-20 teams in their nonconference schedule.

In the first two games of the season, the Lakers face the unanimous No. 1 and 2 teams, Florida Sothern and Adelphi. In GVSU’s six remaining nonconference games, the Lakers will face five more top-20 teams, including No. 3 Le Moyne, No. 5 Lindenwood and No. 6 Rollins.

GVSU softball coach featured on ‘In the Circle’ softball podcast

In her third year as the head coach for the Grand Valley State softball team, Dana Callihan was featured as a guest on the ‘In the Circle’ national softball podcast. The podcast highlighted the Lakers’ College World Series trip last season along with previewing the upcoming season. A preview of the Lakers’ season was also included in the D2 Revue blog.

Last season, the Lakers advanced to the College World Series for the third time in school history (2002, 2013 and 2016). GVSU went 43013 and won the Midwest Region championship over No. 10 Wayne State.

This season, the Lakers return 14 letter winners, eight of them starters. Six players were named as All-GLIAC selections, four of them also earning a spot on All-Region teams. With a strong returning cast, the Lakers were ranked No. 6 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Preseason Top-25 Poll. GVSU opens the 2017 season with the Lewis Dome Tournament Friday, Feb. 24 and Saturday, Feb. 25, playing four Great Lakes Valley Conference teams in the indoor, two-day tournament.

Club sailing attends conference in Milwaukee

Members of the Grand Valley State sailing club attended the 2017 Midwest Collegiate Sailing Association Midwinters Conference during the weekend of Friday, Jan. 27 through Sunday, Jan. 29 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During the conference, the regatta schedule for the upcoming 2017 season was determined.

The Lakers will host three events during the season, including the Laker Showdown Saturday, April 1 and Sunday April 2. GVSU will host two more events during the fall season, the Singlehanded Qualifiers Saturday, Oct. 14 and Sunday, Oct. 15 and the Emma Biegioni Saturday, Nov. 4 and Sunday, Nov. 5.

After the convention, the club attended a banquet at the Milwaukee Yacht Club. GVSU’s Elliot Lee was awarded an Honorable Mention for Co-ed Skipper of the Year, and the GVSU Sailing Club was awarded the Regatta of the Year for planning and running the Fall Championship Regatta Saturday, Nov. 12 and Sunday, Nov. 13 in 2016. The Emma Biagioni Regatta, also hosted by GVSU, earned runner up.