November 4, 2009 - Coming off its best season in school history, the Hillsdale College women's basketball team is getting some preseason respect this season.

The Chargers are ranked 23rd in the preseason USA Today Division II Top 25 Women's Basketball poll, released Wednesday morning. Hillsdale is one of three GLIAC schools to be ranked in the preseason poll.

Michigan Tech, the Great Lakes Regional champions last year, is ranked number one in the poll, receiving 12 of a possible 26 first-place votes. Grand Valley State is ranked 25th in the preseason poll also.

Michigan Tech, Hillsdale and Grand Valley State are three teams who all qualified for the NCAA Tournament last year, and are three of the final four teams in last year's GLIAC Tournament, won by the Chargers.

The Chargers won their second straight GLIAC South Division title last year, and won their first GLIAC Tournament championship since 2002 thanks to an 81-69 win over host Michigan Tech in the championship game. Hillsdale returns two starters from last year's team, GLIAC All-Tournament guards Brooke Knight and Janay Miller.

Hillsdale went 27-4 last year, but lost the Division II national player of the year, Katie Cezat, to graduation. Cezat averaged 29 points and 16 rebounds per game a year ago, turning in one of the finest seasons ever seen at the NCAA Division II level. Two other starters, Katie Eckinger and Claire Aubrey, also graduated from last year's team.

Michigan Tech returns all five starters from last year's team. The University of Indianapolis, who ended Hillsdale's season in a 72-71 game in the first round of regionals last year, is ranked 11th in the preseason poll.