By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Women’s Basketball was picked second in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, released on Tuesday (Oct. 11) at MIAA Basketball Media Day. Missouri Southern, which shared the MIAA regular season title with Fort Hays State last year, was picked first in both polls.
The top four slots of the Coaches Poll are filled by teams that competed in the NCAA Central Regional last year. After Missouri Southern and Fort Hays State, Nebraska-Kearney was picked third and Missouri Western fourth. All four teams received multiple first place votes, MSSU with six, FHSU with three, UNK with two, and MWSU with three.
Central Missouri jumped into the top four mix of the Media Poll, slotted third behind MSSU and FHSU. The trio of schools each received multiple first-place votes, MSSU with 13, FHSU with four, and UCM with three. Central Missouri was the champion of the Central Region two years ago (2020-21), but came up short of making the regional last year.
Fort Hays State is coming off another banner year under head coach Tony Hobson, who enters his 15th season guiding the program. The Tigers claimed their third MIAA regular season title in the last four years in 2021-22, then went on to knock off co-regular season champ Missouri Southern for the MIAA Tournament title as well. The Tigers served as host of the NCAA Tournament Central Regional as the No. 1 seed and reached the regional final for the third time under Hobson. They finished the season at 30-4 overall.
The Tigers return three of five starters from last season in Katie Wagner, Olivia Hollenbeck, and Sydney Golladay. Wagner was an All-MIAA Second Team selection and garnered Central Regional All-Tournament honors in the NCAA Tournament. Hollenbeck netted an All-MIAA Honorable Mention selection for the second-straight year. Wagner averaged 13.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game last year to lead the team, while ranking second in assists at 3.1 per game. Hollenbeck averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game, while Golladay chipped in 4.0 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.
A handful of Tigers that made significant contributions to the success of the 2021-22 Tigers also return, which includes Jessie Sallach in the post and Emma Ruddle, Kate Dilsaver, and Megan Earney on the perimeter. Kia Wilson will be looking to make her first contributions as a Tiger after sitting out last year recovering from injury.
A trio of All-MIAA players in Jaden Hobbs, Whitney Randall, and Cydney Bergmann will be greatly missed, but six newcomers look to help the Tigers remain one of the elite teams in the MIAA and Central Region. Clary Donica will use her extra year of eligibility to join forces with the Tigers after three years of being a Tiger opponent at University of Central Oklahoma. Whitney Brown and Sasha Koenig are transfer guards from NCAA Division I programs, while Mallory Cowman gives the Tigers more height in the post. Brooke Loewe and Ellie Stearns are freshmen that will look to make their mark as well.
Fans can get a first look at the Tigers in an exhibition contest at Kansas State University on October 31. The Tigers will open their season at the D2CCA Women’s Basketball Tip-Off Classic at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, November 5-6.
The MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls for the 2022-23 season are listed below…
Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Missouri Southern [6] – 159 Points
2. Fort Hays State [3] – 151 Points
3. Nebraska Kearney [2] – 144 Points
4. Missouri Western [3] – 139 Points
5. Central Missouri – 127 Points
6. Emporia State – 106 Points
7. Northwest Missouri – 100 Points
8. Pittsburg State – 85 Points
9. Central Oklahoma – 74 Points
10. Washburn – 62 Points
11. Rogers State – 50 Points
12. Northeastern State – 31 Points
13. Newman – 28 Points
14. Lincoln – 18 Points
Preseason Media Poll
1. Missouri Southern [13] – 249 Points
2. Fort Hays State [4] – 234 Points
3. Central Missouri [3] – 218 Points
4. Nebraska Kearney – 216 Points
5. Missouri Western – 211 Points
6. Northwest Missouri – 164 Points
7. Emporia State – 145 Points
8. Pittsburg State – 129 Points
9. Central Oklahoma – 127 Points
10. Washburn – 108 Points
11. Rogers State – 74 Points
12. Northeastern State – 57 Points
T13. Lincoln – 31 Points
T13. Newman – 31 Points