Click here for 2015-16 GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll
BAY CITY - The Saginaw Valley State University women's basketball team has been chosen to finish in fifth place in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) North Division after preseason balloting by the league's head coaches.
The Cardinals received 50 points to land in the fifth spot, 17 points behind fourth place Northern Michigan. Michigan Tech was chosen to win the North Division for the 2015-16 season, garnering 110 points and 13 first place votes. Grand Valley State got three first place nods and 95 points to finish runner-up and Northwood had 77 points and is listed in the third slot.
Ashland was the recipient of 14 first place votes and was picked to win the South Division. Walsh was picked second in the south with 89 points and a pair of first place votes while Wayne State and Findlay tied for the third spot with 84 points.
Along with the team polls, the coaches also chose the preseason All-GLIAC teams. SVSU junior forward Emily Wendling was named to the preseason All-GLIAC North Division First Team. She has earned all-league recognition in her first two seasons of competition, being named the 2012-13 GLIAC Freshman of the Year to go along with First Team All-GLIAC honors and earning 2014-15 All-GLIAC Second Team plaudits last season.
#5 GLIAC NORTH - WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
SAGINAW VALLEY STATE CARDINALS (9-19 ALL, 4-18 GLIAC)
2015-16 Saginaw Valley State Women's Basketball Preview
The SVSU women's basketball team looks to rebound from a 2014-15 season in which the Lady Cardinals posted a 9-19 overall record and 4-18 mark in conference play. The team aims to make a return visit to postseason play, as the program made back-to-back trips to the GLIAC Tournament in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.
Jamie Pewinski returns for her fifth season leading the Cardinals, as the 2015-16 group will feature a strong crop of returners with a blend of strong newcomers. Leading the way on the floor will be junior forward Emily Wendling, who led the team with 15.7 ppg and 9.1 rpg. Wendling was named to the 2015-16 All-GLIAC Second Team last season. The Cards also get back starting guard Katelyn Carriere, who missed all of last season due to injury. She will add experience back into the backcourt and SVSU will get another piece from the 2013-14 team back to add depth in the middle, as Grace Whelan comes off a redshirt season for SVSU. Sophomore starting guard Jessica Alexander returns as well while guards Abby Schlicher, Danielle Carriere, Alex Green and Mikayla Silm provide more depth for the team in the backcourt.
Incoming freshmen Kassy Nelson (G), Tori Lennartz (F), Anna Hall (G), Hannah Settingsgaard (G) and Halee Nieman (F) all look to contribute to the team as well in their first season for the team.
Saginaw Valley gets its season underway on Saturday, November 14th as the Cardinals play Lewis at St. Joseph's before playing St. Joe's on November 15th in the GLIAC/GLVC Challenge.
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