The Emporia State women will begin practice today with a team that looks familiar — with one big exception.
That one exception, three-time All-American Michelle Stueve, will surely be missed. Stueve was the all-time leading scorer in MIAA and ESU history and was arguably the best player in school history. Nonetheless, Emporia State returns four starters from its MIAA championship team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16, and no one is sleeping on the Hornets, who open the season ranked 18th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25.
“I think our expectations are always extremely high this time of year,” coach Brandon Schneider said. “They’re as high as they ever have been. ... Many of our returners played injured a year ago and they’re all healthy. We’re excited about that and we hope we keep them healthy.”
Those returners include Cassondra Boston, Ida Edwards, Andrea Lieker, Alli Volkens and Allie Renberg. Edwards is the team’s leading returning scorer at 13.7 points per game. Boston earned second-team All-MIAA honors last season. Lieker is seventh in career 3-pointers after her first three seasons with the Hornets and was also a member of the MIAA All-Defensive team last year.
The Hornets will try to replace Stueve — or at least compensate for her loss — with junior college transfer Sophia Lenard, the team’s only newcomer. Lenard, who will play small forward for the Hornets, led Central Arizona to the NJCAA National Championship last season, averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.
“We’re looking for her to make an impact,” Schneider said. “She’s as athletic — if not more — than anybody we’ve ever had in our program. She can really get to the rim. She’s a terrific penetrator, slasher. She can even play with her back to the basket a little bit and athletically she’s a game-changer on the defensive end.”
The Hornets appear in the preseason Top 25 for the fifth straight year and they have appeared in the poll at some point every year since 1997.
“I think it’s always important,” Schneider said. “I think it helps in recruiting. I think that’s where polls are important. I think it helps to continue to sell your program as one of the top Division II programs in the country.”
Schneider has built a program of consistency, appearing in the Sweet 16 seven of the last 11 seasons. The success of his program has become more than about one player, but the Hornets will have to find a way to replace Stueve’s production to remain in the Top 25 all season.
“I’m happy to be in it,” Schneider said. “When you lose a player the magnitude of Michelle, I think it’s a compliment to your returners that you’re still regarded as one of the top programs in the country.”
Emporia State opens its season on Nov. 7 at Kansas State. The Hornets upset the Wildcats 64-59 in their last meeting in 2006.
Bullentin Preseason Top 25
1. Northern Kentucky
2. California (Pa.)
3. West Texas A&M
4. Franklin Pierce
5. Alaska-Anchorage
6. Washburn
7. Michigan Tech
8. Tusculum
9. Stonehill
10. Drury
11. Indiana (Pa.)
12. Delta State
13. Wingate
14. Central Oklahoma
15. Hillsdale
16. Holy Family
17. Augustana
18. Emporia State
19. South Carolina-Aiken
20. Arkansas Tech
21. Clayton State
22. Nebraska-Kearney
23. Nova Southeastern
24. West Georgia
25. Shepherd