SEWARD, Neb. – The Concordia University women’s basketball team gobbled up 10 first-place votes in the GPAC preseason coaches’ poll released on Thursday (Oct. 19) by the league. Twelfth-year head coach Drew Olson’s squad has been picked to repeat as GPAC champions after capturing conference regular-season and tournament titles this past season. The Bulldogs collected 100 total points in the GPAC poll.
Four of five starters return from the 2016-17 national semifinalist team. The familiar names include senior guards Dani (Andersen) Hoppes and Mary Janovich and post players in sophomore Philly Lammers and junior Quinn Wragge. Janovich, Lammers and Wragge each collected some form of All-America recognition in March. They helped lead Concordia to a 34-3 overall record in 2016-17. The lone starter to graduate was point guard Shelby Quinn.
Olson’s squad was picked third in the GPAC preseason poll a year ago. The Bulldogs have not been a preseason conference favorite since being a co-No. 1 with Morningside prior to the 2013-14 campaign. A No. 1 GPAC ranking virtually guarantees Concordia will be a preseason top-five team nationally. The NAIA Division II women’s basketball preseason coaches’ poll is scheduled to be announced next Tuesday (Oct. 24).
The 2017-18 season will get underway at the annual Cattle Classic (Nov. 3-4). The Bulldogs will play host to both Viterbo University (Wis.) and University of Saint Francis (Ill.) over the two-day event.
2017-18 GPAC Preseason Poll
(First-place votes in parentheses)
1. Concordia – 100 (10)
2. Dakota Wesleyan – 90 (1)
3. Morningside – 78
4. Northwestern – 76
5. Hastings – 65
6. Midland – 47
7. Briar Cliff – 46
8. Doane – 32
9. Mount Marty – 29
10. Dordt – 27
11. College of Saint Mary – 15