Aug. 25, 2009

Bay City, Mich. - Grand Valley State was chosen by the head coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to win the league's North Division in the 2009 preseason poll, released on Tuesday (Aug. 25). GVSU totaled 24 points in the poll, including four of the six first-place votes.

Similar to last year, the Lakers outdistanced Northern Michigan, as the Wildcats tallied 20 points and the other two first-place votes. Saginaw Valley State (19 points) and Ferris State (13) were third and fourth, while Michigan Tech (9) and Lake Superior State (5) rounded out the North Division.

In the South Division, Hillsdale and Wayne State finished tied for first with 22 points apiece, as the Chargers picked up three first-place votes and WSU tallied a pair of first-place nods. Ashland, which finished third with 17 points, claimed the other first-place citation and held off Northwood (15 points) for fourth place. Findlay (9) and Tiffin (5) finished in fifth and sixth place.

Each of the GLIAC's 12 coaches voted for the teams in their division, but could not vote for their own team. First-place votes were worth five points, second-place votes were worth four, etc.

Last season, Grand Valley State defeated Saginaw Valley State in the GLIAC Tournament Championship match, 3-1, on Nov. 16. Both teams met again one week later in the Midwest Regional Championship, with the Lakers taking another 3-1 victory over the Cardinals. GVSU was crowned champions of the North Division for the fifth straight year, while Northwood claimed the regular season crown of the South Division in 2008.

The Lakers return 11 letterwinners and four starters from the 2008 team that made the fifth Final Four appearance in program history, falling to eventual national champion, Concordia-St. Paul. GVSU was 33-4 last season and 15-1 in league play. Grand Valley State begins its season at the Lady Buff Volleyball Classic in Canyon, Tex. this weekend with four matches. The Lakers, ranked #4 nationally, meet up with the host school, #5 West Texas A&M, on Friday night (Aug. 28) at 7:00 p.m. and take on #19 Nova Southeastern on Saturday (Aug. 29) at 1:00 p.m.