The Grand Valley State women’s volleyball team was selected first in the GLIAC preseason coaches’ poll, as released by the league earlier today. The Lakers received eight of the 11 first-place votes, earning 98 total points.
GVSU is coming off their best season in over a decade, going 28-4 overall, finishing second in the GLIAC, and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Four seniors are gone from that team, but there is still plenty of talent returning for head coach Jason Johnson.
Four All-GLIAC selections are back in Allendale this fall, led by First-Team outside hitter Kendall Stover. Stover paced the Lakers with 272 kills, while adding 326 digs, and 56 blocks. Second-Team selections Paige Sanders and Meghan O’Sullivan, along with honorable mention selection Brianna Stawski will also return for GVSU. Stawski (126), Sanders (123), and O’Sullivan (87) were the Lakers top three blockers a season ago, with all adding over 200 kills as well. Kate Goudreau, Kennedy Arp, McKenzie Johnson, Grace Busold, Olivia Behen, and Caroline Baker all played in over half the matches last season.
Five newcomers join the squad, with four freshmen and one transfer entering the fold.
GVSU opens their season on September 5 th at the Colorado Mines Tournament in Golden, Colorado. They begin their home slate the following week by hosting the Hampton Inn and Suites Grand Rapids Downtown Classic. GLIAC play starts with a home weekend on the 19 th and 20 th of September, with Lake Superior State and Saginaw Valley coming to Allendale.
