ALLENDALE, MICH. – The Grand Valley State women's basketball team was voted to finish first in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' poll, released by the conference office earlier today. The Lakers got first-place votes from the 10 other teams in the league, looking for their fifth straight league title.
 
The Lakers earned all 100 points possible in the poll, taking the top spot. Northern Michigan was second with 87 points, followed by Ferris State in third with 84 points and one first-place vote. In fourth with 72 points was Parkside, and Wayne State rounded out the top five with 66 points.
 
GVSU is coming off their second National Championship in program history, going 38-2 in 2024-25, winning 37 of those games by double-digits. They led the nation in bench points per game and scoring margin, while ranking in the top 10 nationally in scoring offense, field goal percentage, assist-to-turnover ratio, assists per game, turnover margin, rebound margin, scoring defense, steals per game, and three-pointers per game. The Lakers won the GLIAC regular season championship for the fourth straight year and then claimed the conference tournament for a third consecutive season.
 
Head Coach Mike Williams returns plenty of talent to Allendale this season, led by First-Team All-Conference and GLIAC All-Defensive Team performer Nicole Kamin. The redshirt senior averaged 9.2 points per game and 4.8 rebounds, adding a team-high 101 steals and 91 assists. Also back is starting guard Molly Anderson, who had 79 assists and 39 steals. Key reserves Paige Vanstee, MacKenzie Bisballe, Lexi Plitzuweit, and Avery Zeinstra will also return. Vanstee, the Midwest Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player, averaged over eight points and four boards in just 16 minutes per game. Bisballe was the league's Freshman of the Year, and a member of the GLIAC All-Defensive Team, was the team's second-leading scorer at 10.3 a game, adding 4.5 rebounds, and a team-high 55 blocks.
 
There are six newcomers to the team, all highly decorated freshmen. Additionally, three players will be returning from injury, and four redshirts will join the rotation this winter.
 
2025-26 GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Poll

1.   Grand Valley State			100 (10)
2.   Northern Michigan			87
3.   Ferris State			84 (1)
4.   Parkside			72
5.   Wayne State			66
6.   Michigan Tech			48
7.   Saginaw Valley State			46
8.   Roosevelt			43
9.   Davenport			25
10. Lake Superior State			21
11. Purdue Northwest			13