Quick hits: Women’s basketball ranked 13th in preseason poll
Nov 3, 2016
Women’s basketball ranked 13th in NCAA Division II preseason poll
After a Cinderella run to the Final Four last season, the Grand Valley State women’s basketball team is ranked 13th in the NCAA Division II preseason coach’s poll. The Lakers finished last season as the eighth-ranked team, but dropped down to 13th for the beginning of the 2016-17 season.
GVSU received 297 points in the preseason poll, finishing ahead of Virginia Union with 269 points. The poll was comprised of 24 head coaches, one from each conference.
At 13th, the Lakers are surrounded by some familiar teams. Just ahead of them, Pittsburgh State comes in at 12th. GVSU upset Pittsburgh State 59-56 in the Elite Eight last season.
Three spots ahead of the Lakers at 10th is Alaska-Anchorage. GVSU lost to Alaska-Anchorage in the Final Four 67-47. Alaska-Anchorage eventually lost in the national championship to Lubbock Christian, which is ranked 11th in the preseason poll.
GVSU is primed for another playoff run this season. The Lakers returned all of their starters from last season and added size and depth to the roster. The team will have a tune-up game Sunday, Nov. 6 at Dayton before the GLIAC/GLVC starts Saturday, Nov. 12.
Three women’s tennis players earn All-GLIAC honors
Three Grand Valley State women’s tennis players earned All-GLIAC honors after the fall season. Madison Ballard, Alexa Sweeney and Abby Perkins represented the Lakers in the all-conference team.
Ballard, a sophomore, was named to the All-GLIAC first team. She played primarily in the No. 1 spot in singles and doubles for the Lakers all season. Ballard finished with a 14-5 record in doubles and a 7-8 record in singles.
Ballard’s doubles partner, Sweeney, earned All-GLIAC second team honors. The junior finished the season 12-4 in the No. 2 spot in singles along with her doubles success with Ballard.
Earning an All-GLIAC honorable mention was Perkins, a junior. Perkins played in the No. 3 spot in both singles and doubles for the Lakers. She finished the season with a 7-6 record in singles and a 17-2 record in doubles.
The Lakers finished the regular season with an 11-3 record and came in third in the GLIAC tournament.
