ALLENDALE – The Grand Valley State softball team was selected to finish second in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll announced by the league office today.
Head coach
Dana Callihan enters her 12
th season at the helm in the 2026 season for GVSU. Over her 11 seasons at GVSU, Callihan has won 416 games and has been named the GLIAC Coach of the Year six times. The Lakers finished in second place in the GLIAC standings in 2025 with a 17-11 conference mark.
Sophomore
Madelynn Pope returns after being named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year last season and earning All-GLIAC first team honors. Pope notched a .366 batting average with 46 hits, 23 runs scored, and a team leading eight triples. Senior pitcher
Nevaeh Ingram returns after earning All-GLIAC first team honors in 2025. Ingram posted a 15-9 record in the circle with a 2.55 ERA, 21 complete games, and 95 strikeouts.
Elizabeth Wesoloski returns for her senior season in 2026. Wesoloski earned All-GLIAC second team honors last year after posting a .335 batting average with a team leading 57 hits, 43 runs batted in, and nine home runs. All-GLIAC second team performers
Faith Edwards and
Karli Dorr also return for GVSU. Edwards batted .300 in the 2025 season with a team leading 38 runs scored. Dorr posted a 2.66 ERA in the circle with a team leading 122 strikeouts.
GVSU will open the 2026 season against Missouri S&T and Concordia – St. Paul at the Lewis Dome Tournament on Thursday, February 19
th. The Lakers will play five games at the Lewis Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Illinois.
2026 GLIAC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. |
Saginaw Valley State |
|
49 (7) |
| 2. |
Grand Valley State |
39 (1) |
| 3. |
Ferris State |
37 |
| 4. |
Parkside |
35 |
| 5. |
Wayne State |
21 |
| 6T. |
Davenport |
18 |
| 6T. |
Roosevelt |
18 |
| 8. |
Purdue Northwest |
7 |
