October 30, 2008 - Coming off their best season in school history, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team received some team and individual accolades Thursday morning.

The Chargers were picked to finish first in the GLIAC South Division in the 2008-09 preseason poll. The Chargers received 25 of a possible 30 first-place votes.

Senior forward Katie Cezat was named the Preseason Player of the Year and made the Preseason First-Team All-GLIAC South Division Team. Cezat was the 2007-08 GLIAC Player of the Year.

Hillsdale went 23-5 last year and won the South Division with a 15-2 conference mark. In addition to Cezat, three other starters return, led by All-Defensive player Claire Aubrey, and guards Brooke Knight and Janay Miller.

Other top returning players include sophomores Kara McCormick and Larua Barczak. Each earned significant playing time as freshmen last year, and figure to play bigger roles on this year's team.

The Chargers made their third all-time trip to the NCAA Tournament last year, losing in the first round of the regionals to Quincy University.

Hillsdale will play a home exhibition game on Tuesday, Nov. 11 against Kalamazoo College. The team's first regular-season home game is Thursday, Dec. 4 against GLIAC rival Lake Superior State University.

To view the complete GLIAC preseason release, click on the link below.

2008-09 GLIAC Women's Basketball Preseason Release