ALLENDALE, MICH. – Already voted as the WBCA preseason number one team in the nation, the Grand Valley women's basketball team added another preseason honor as they were selected as the preseason number one team in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference by the league's coaches in a poll released earlier today. The Lakers earned nine first-place votes for a total of 81 points. Additionally, Emily Spitzley was named preseason first-team all-conference and Ellie Droste earned preseason second-team honors.
 
Grand Valley topped the preseason poll after winning the GLIAC regular season last year. Ferris State was voted second and had the remaining first place vote, while Michigan Tech was third, SVSU fourth, and Parkside fifth. Wayne State was voted to finish sixth, Northern Michigan picked seventh, Purdue Northwest eighth, Davenport ninth, and Lake Superior State rounded out the preseason poll in tenth.
 
Head coach Mike Williams enters his eighth season at the helm of GVSU, and 2021-22 GLIAC Coach of the Year is coming off his best season in Allendale, as the Lakers went 30-2 overall, and 18-1 in GLIAC play, and advanced to the NCAA Final Four. The Lakers return plenty of talent from this past season, including three reigning first-team All-GLIAC members in Emily Spitzley, Ellie Droste, and Rylie Bisballe. Spitzley, Droste, Bisballe, along with senior Hannah Kulas were the four leading scorers last season and they all return to lead the Lakers.

Emily Spitzley was named to the preseason All-GLIAC First-Team, as she returns after her strong junior campaign in which she was a First-Team All-GLIAC honoree. She was the leading scorer for the Lakers, averaging 12.6 points per game last year while shooting 45% from the floor and 42% from behind the arc. Spitzley connected on 53 three-pointers in 127 attempts and knocked down 46 free throws at 76% clip. The senior guard is averaged 3.6 rebounds per game and has dished out 27 assists while grabbing 26 steals.

Ellie Droste also earned preseason honors, as she was named to the preseason All-GLIAC Second-Team. Droste earned first-team All-GLIAC honors last year as she averaged 11.8 points per game while shooting 46% from the floor and 41% from three. Droste led the team in free throw percentage and free throws made, shooting 68-84 (81%) from the line. The sophomore guard has dished out 54 assists last year while grabbing 2.7 rebounds per game.

The Lakers begin the season this Friday on the road against Missouri-St. Louis at 2pm. They continue their road trip the following day against Maryville, also at 2pm. GVSU opens the home portion of their schedule the following weekend as they welcome in Tiffin (Nov. 18) and Findlay (Nov. 19).