Oct. 24, 2007

GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

Grand Valley State's women's basketball team was tabbed to win the 2007-08 GLIAC North Division title. For the first time in league history, members of the media and the GLIAC's Sports Information Directors voted and chose the conference's basketball preseason polls. The poll was released in conjuction with the GLIAC Basketball Media Day Teleconference. Grand Valley State received 195 overall and 20 first-place votes to top the GLIAC North Division. Gannon received 27 first-place votes and 177 overall to finish first in the South Division poll.

Grand Valley State, ranked 24th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll, returns seven letterwinners and two starters from last year's squad that made the NCAA Great Lakes Region Tournament for the third consecutive year. The Lakers, who posted a 21-8 record last season, claimed the GLIAC North Division title for the second straight time. GVSU ranked second in the nation in three-point field goal percentage, knocking down 37.9% of their three-pointers. GVSU will be led by new head coach Janel Burgess, who joins the Laker staff after spending three years as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Missouri State.

2007-08 GLIAC Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll
North Division
School (first-place votes) Points
Grand Valley State (20) 195
Ferris State (4) 163
Michigan Tech (6) 158
Lake Superior State 130
Northwood 107
Saginaw Valley State 80
Northern Michigan 67

South Division
School (first-place votes) Points
Gannon (27) 177
Hillsdale (3) 128
Ashland 118
Wayne State
Findlay 73
Mercyhurst 35

The head women's basketball coaches of the GLIAC chose Ferris State University senior forward Rachel Folcik as the league's preseason "Player of the Year." Joining Folcik on the preseason All-GLIAC North Division Team are, junior center Jaclyn Armstrong of Lake Superior State, junior guard Sarah Stream and sophomore forward Katie Wysocky of Michigan Tech, and senior guard Crystal Zick of Grand Valley State.

The 2007-07 preseason All-GLIAC South Division Team includes junior guard Lisa Graue of Ashland University, senior guard Ashley Lowdermilk of Gannon, junior guard Joy Nash of Wayne State University, senior forward Julie Slot of Hillsdale College and junior guard Brittany Wells of the University of Findlay.

Zick, averaged 14.7 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.3 rebounds as she earned Daktronics, Inc. All-Great Lakes Region Second Team and All-GLIAC First Team honors. She ranks fourth on GVSU's career records list in both assists (385) and three-point field goals made (120). Crystal has guided the Lakers to an 82-17 (.828) overall and 45-7 (.865) GLIAC record in her three seasons.

Grand Valley State will open the 2007-08 with a preseason game at Michigan State on Thursday, Nov. 1 in East Lansing, Mich. at 7:00 p.m. The Lakers will then open regular season play at Kentucky Wesleyan College on Nov. 16 at 7:00 p.m.