Marian Tabbed as Preseason Favorite, Kirkhoff Earns Top Honor
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AVON, Ohio – The Crossroads League announced its 2017-2018 Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll and Preseason All-League Teams on Tuesday, as recently voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches.
Two-time defending NAIA National Champion, Marian, was selected as the preseason favorite to with a third-straight Crossroads League Championship. The Knights were followed in the poll by Saint Francis, Taylor, Indiana Wesleyan and Grace in the top-five. MU and USF represented the Crossroads League in the NAIA National Championship Tournament one year ago, with the Knights giving the league its fourth national title in the past five years.
MU’s Kellie Kirkhoff was selected by the league coaches as the Crossroads League Preseason Player of the Year. Kirkoff was named an NAIA Third-Team All-American last season, after netting 13.4 points, 2.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the Knights. Joining Kirkhoff as Preseason First-Team All-Crossroads League selections were fellow Third-Team NAIA All-American, Kendall Bradbury, of Taylor, returning CL Freshman of the Year, Kara Gerka, of Saint Francis, Joana Soeiro of Marian and Lauren McBryar of Saint Francis.
2017-2018 CROSSROADS LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
1-Marian
2-Saint Francis
3-Taylor
4-Indiana Wesleyan
5-Grace
6-Huntington
7-Mount Vernon Nazarene
8-Spring Arbor
9-Bethel
10-Goshen
2017-2018 CROSSROADS LEAGUE PRESEASON ALL-LEAGUE
First Team
Kellie Kirkhoff, MU (Preseason Player of the Year)
Kendall Bradbury, TU
Kara Gerka, USF
Joana Soeiro, MU
Lauren McBryar, USF
Second Team
Nicole Ignasiak, IWU
Cassidy Wyse, TU
Vironnica Drake, GC
Dejah Cyrus, MU
Brooke Saylor, HU
Third Team
Autumn Goggin, SAU
Sierra Basista, MVNU
Kamala Glenn, BC
Savannah Buck, USF
Anna Imhoff, IWU
Honorable Mention
Dani Ellerbrock, MVNU
Candace Danz, MU
Brooke Sugg, GC
Josie Cobb, TU
Brittany Washington, IWU
Kelsie Peterson, GC
