GLIAC Preseason Poll Results

GVSU Team Preview | Interview with head coach Dana Callihan

After advancing to the College World Series for third time in program history, Grand Valley State was picked by the league's head coaches to win the league title in the 2017 GLIAC Preseason Poll, released on Tuesday morning (Feb. 7). The Lakers finished just one point ahead of conference rival Wayne State in the poll; GVSU knocked off the Warriors in Detroit in last year's Midwest Super Regional Championship series to earn the College World Series berth in Denver, Colo.

All 12 softball teams in the conference were ranked, with head coaches not being able to vote for their own teams. The 12 first-place votes were split evenly down the middle - GVSU and Wayne State both garnered six first-place votes apiece. With 116 total points in the poll, the Lakers held off WSU, as the Warriors collected 115 points. Ashland (95 points) finished third in the poll, with Saginaw Valley State (88 points) and Ferris State (80 points) placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Here are the full results from the 2017 GLIAC Softball Preseason Poll:

1. Grand Valley State - 116 points (6 first-place votes)
2. Wayne State - 115 points (6 first-place votes)
3. Ashland - 95 points
4. Saginaw Valley State - 88 points
5. Ferris State - 80 points
6. Hillsdale - 71 points
7. Tiffin - 55 points
8. Findlay - 52 points
9. Ohio Dominican - 40 points
10. Walsh - 38 points
11. Northwood - 31 points
12. Lake Erie - 11 points

It is perhaps no surprise that Grand Valley State and Wayne State finished as the top two teams in the poll, as the Lakers and Warriors return large supporting casts from last season's regional championship series. After GVSU won four games in Indianapolis, Ind. in the Midwest Region 1 Tournament (three of which were one-run victories, including a 5-4 win over #2 nationally Indianapolis), the Lakers headed to Detroit for the Midwest Super Regional and a potential trip to the College World Series.

The Lakers defeated #10 Wayne State in a 5-4 comeback victory before clinching the best-of-three series the next day with a 1-0 triumph and clinching the program's second trip to the College World Series in the past four seasons. In the NFCA Top-25 Preseason Poll, GVSU is slotted #6 nationally, while Wayne State is ranked #10.

Finishing 43-13 last year, Grand Valley State graduated a pair of All-GLIAC performers in pitcher Sara Andrasik and corner infielder McKenze Supernaw, but the Lakers return 14 letterwinners and eight starters overall. That group includes four players that received All-Region accolades from either the NFCA or D2CCA and six All-GLIAC selections. 

Senior Ellie Balbach hit .353 last season with 65 hits, 16 doubles, five homers, and 39 RBI, but the lefty was also a key contributor in the circle. Not only did she earn the regional championship game victory at Wayne State with five shutout innings and a solo homer for the game's lone run in the 1-0 win, Balbach went 8-4 with a 2.91 ERA in the circle last season. Senior second baseman Jenna Lenza batted .345 with 35 runs, 15 doubles, 27 RBI, and 29 walks, while junior catcher Kaylie Rhynard hit .333 and scored 35 times, while collecting 62 hits, 14 sacrifices, and was a perfect 21-for-21 in stolen base attempts. All three players were named to the All-GLIAC First Team and picked up Midwest Region Second Team honors, as well.

After finishing basketball season, senior outfielder Janae Langs will join the team; Langs hit .333 and knocked 34 hits, while starting in all 33 games in which she played last year. Sophomore third baseman Shannon Flaherty started 56 games as a true freshman and totaled 15 extra base hits and 31 RBI. Both players were tabbed as All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selections last season. Junior Teagan Shomin started 50 games at shortstop last season and posted 21 walks and 14 hit by pitches to tie Lenza for a team-high .433 on-base percentage, while senior outfielder Kelsey Dominguez made 54 starts in left field or center field, collecting 40 hits and 14 RBI on the year.

Three of the Lakers' top four pitchers are also back, minus Andrasik. In addition to Balbach, junior righty Courtney Reinhold returns after going 10-5 last year and walking just 13 batters in 92.1 innings in the circle. Sophomore righthander Allison Lipovsky was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year after tallying an 11-1 record and a 0.95 earned run average and allowing only nine extra base hits in 95.1 innings of work. 

GVSU begins the 2017 season indoors at the Lewis Dome Invitational in Rosemont, Ill. on Feb. 24-25. The Lakers will face Missouri S&T, Illinois Springfield, Wisconsin-Parkside, and William Jewell on the opening weekend before heading to Clermont, Fla. on Mar. 5-11 to play a dozen games on the team's annual Spring Break trip.