The GVSU women’s basketball team was selected first in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as released by the league office earlier today. Rylie Bisballe was named the conference Preseason Player of the Year and Nicole Kamin earned a spot on the preseason First-Team All-GLIAC.
GVSU earned 10 first-place votes to take the top spot with 100 points. Ferris State was second with one first-place vote, with Northern Michigan in third. Parkside and Michigan Tech rounded out the top five. Wayne State was sixth, SVSU seventh, Purdue Northwest eighth, Davenport ninth, GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt was picked 10th, and LSSU finished off the poll in 11th.
Coming off a third straight regular season championship, and their second consecutive tournament championship, the Lakers were 31-3 a year ago and return almost their entire rotation. Bisballe, Kamin, Abrie Cabana, Lexi Plitzuweit, Hadley Miller, and Ellie Droste all started over 16 games last year. Also back are key reserves Paige Vanstee, Molly Anderson, Avery Zeinstra, and Megan Crow.
Bisballe was the GLIAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, also earned All-American honors. She averaged 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds during the season, recording five double-doubles. Once GLIAC play began, she upped her production to over 16 points a game, on 53.8%/38.2%/76.1% shooting splits. The senior tallied a team-high 38 blocks, adding 40 steals, and 58 assists.
A First-Team All-Conference selection, while also a member of the All-Defensive team, junior Nicole Kamin earned a spot on the preseason First-Team. Kamin scored over nine points a game, adding almost five boards per contest. She led the team with 51 steals to go along with 79 assists and 29 blocks.
GVSU will open the 2024-25 campaign this weekend at the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead. They will play Findlay, Montana State Billings, and Union over the three days in Montana.
