Holland Reporter

The Grand Valley State University (GVSU) women's lacrosse team has been voted first in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) preseason coaches' poll. This follows their 11th GLIAC title win last season. The Lakers received four first-place votes and accumulated a total of 16 points.

Last season, GVSU achieved a record of 17-2, sweeping both the GLIAC regular season and tournament championships. The team will see Dominique Hamman take over as head coach this spring. Hamman, who was previously a graduate assistant coach for GVSU, returns to lead a program that has won 35 consecutive GLIAC games and appeared in three consecutive NCAA tournaments. The Lakers are ranked seventh in the USA Lacrosse Magazine preseason poll.

The Lakers boast a strong returning lineup, particularly on defense, which led the nation with a 4.94 goals-against average last year. Offensively, they have seven of their top ten scorers returning. All-American goalkeeper Kaylyn Cater will return after achieving 83 saves with a .512 save percentage. Defensively, All-GLIAC players Kylie Waeghe and Elora Ferrie return alongside starter Lauren Volk. In midfield, All-Region selection Ashleigh Rothe is back with teammates Zoe Ziegler, Ella Boose, and Ainsley Shilling joining Delaney Smith and Jillian Bingman on offense. Smith leads the team's returning point scorers with 46 points from 22 goals and 24 assists.

In the 2025 GLIAC Women's Lacrosse Coaches' Preseason Poll, GVSU ranks first with Northern Michigan following at second place with one first-place vote and Davenport securing third place.

GVSU will commence its season on February 23rd against Indiana (Pa.) and begin its GLIAC campaign on March 28th away at Concordia-St. Paul.