MVNU is coming off a program-best 27-9 record last year that saw the Lady Cougars just miss the program’s first-ever trip to the NAIA Division II National Tournament on a last-second shot in the American Mideast Conference Tournament championship game only to capture the National Christian College Athletic Association national title for the third time in the program’s history.

Despite graduating a talented senior class that included point guard Rachel Fiely, the NCCAA Kathy Freese National Player of the Year, MVNU returns seven letterwinners and four starters from last year’s squad. Combine that with a talented incoming freshman class, and it is no wonder that head coach Steve Gregory is excited about the team’s prospects in the new season.

"I look at our roster and in all my years of coaching I have never had a team with this much depth,” said Gregory, who enters his 12th season at MVNU with a 159-173 record at his alma mater. "I recognize that it’s a young group overall with no seniors, but we have a lot of talented players who all bring different strengths to the table. We have eight new players who have been working extremely hard to go along with seven returning players who understand what it takes to be successful.”

Sophomore transfer Sierra Fletcher is the heir apparent to take over the point guard duties after averaging 8.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists while starting 26 of the team’s 29 games at NCAA Division I Longwood (Va.) University as a freshman. Junior Lauren Johnson (7.2 ppg and 23 starts) could also share in the point guard duties but will start the year as the shooting guard, while sophomore Ashley Jessie (1.1 ppg) and freshmen Melissa Eickholt and Francena Tate could also see time at the all-important spot. Eickholt helped Crestview High School to back-to-back state Final Four appearances and was a member of the All-Ohio Second Team after averaging 10.4 points and shooting 88.9 percent from the free throw line, while Tate averaged 8.8 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.7 steals at St. Wendelin High School.

"Sierra has done a tremendous job of coming in and picking up what we are doing,” said Gregory. "She is going to be the sparkplug early as she leads the team as the floor general from the point guard position. She has really impressed the coaching staff with her all-around play. She has a tremendous work ethic and has been extremely coachable. She has tremendous vision and is always looking to get the ball ahead to open teammates. She is blessed with great speed and is very versatile. Besides her good offensive instincts and her ability to both knock down the trey as well as attack the basket, she is a hard-nosed and very strong defender. She is a very well-rounded player.”

Johnson will begin the year as the starting shooting guard, but could flip-flop with Fletcher in that role. Eickholt, junior Kelli Pollock, and sophomore Gabby Fowler are all good outside shooters and will see time in this role as well. Pollock returns after missing all of last season, while Fowler averaged 2.8 points and nailed 28 treys. Freshmen Rachel Peelman and Jessi Drayer will also provide depth at the guard position. Peelman helped Twinsburg High School to a 40-6 record over her final two seasons, while Drayer was a three-time All-Ohio Honorable Mention pick at Waterford High School where she compiled 1,331 career points.

"Lauren has experience and that is a big plus,” said Gregory. "She is a strong defender and a good slasher who can get to the basket. Melissa had a tremendous high school career and is ready to take on a role at the college level right away. She is a strong ball-handler and perimeter shooter who can take the ball to the basket. She has shown great poise under pressure and exuded confidence with her play. Gabby and Kelli are both very strong perimeter shooter and are known for their deep shooting abilities. Gabby shot the ball very well coming off the bench last season and her game has progressed this year. She continues to show good understanding of what we are trying to do systematically and her experience will be very important when she comes off the bench. Rachel and Jessi are both gifted guards and know how to play the game.”

Sophomore Alexis Harkins returns as the third starter on the wing after earning AMC Freshman of the Year honors as she averaged 13.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.5 assists while starting all 36 games. Pollock and freshmen Emily Steveley and Camaranne Myles will add depth at the position. Steveley averaged 8.8 points and 3.8 rebounds for Wapakoneta High School as they finished as the Ohio Division II state runner-up. Meanwhile, Myles contributed 15.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists as a senior at Centerburg High School.

"Alexis had a tremendous freshman year and looks primed and ready for a great sophomore campaign,” said Gregory. "She can hit the three, slash to the basket, and has a very strong mid-range game. I expect to see her game really flourish this year now that she has a year of experience under her belt. She is a very good offensive player, but equally important are her rebounding skills. She knows how to get to the basket and keep possessions alive by being crafty and getting offensive stick-backs.”

"Emily has been impressive so far in the preseason,” Gregory said. "She is a very intelligent player who can play inside and outside. She has good touch inside and she can knock down the three. She can also change shots with her defensive presence as well as being a solid rebounder. Camaranne is another talented freshman who is very good perimeter shooter.”

Junior Kellie Jokela returns at the forward position after starting all 35 games she played in last year. She averaged 5.2 points and 5.2 rebounds and shot 34.8 percent from three-point range. "Kellie brings a wealth of experience to the No. 4 spot for us,” said Gregory. "She is a strong three-point shooter and has improved her driving skills. Her jump hook has gotten better, and she is a very good defender and rebounder. She is a very well-rounded player.”

Junior center Amanda Himes returns to roam the paint for the Lady Cougars after leading the team by averaging 19.8 points and 11.1 rebounds as she was named to the AMC First Team, the NCCAA All-American First Team, and an NAIA Division II Honorable Mention All-American as well as being selected as the NCCAA National Tournament Most Valuable Player. Freshman Courtney Swart will serve as her primary back-up after blocking over 100 shots as a senior at Grove City High School.

"Amanda is very talented on the low block and is very tough to stop one-on-one,” said Gregory of his post, who has already amassed 1,057 points and 561 rebounds in just two seasons. "She has gotten better at passing out of double teams since that has seemed to be the defense of choice by most teams over the past two years against her. She is extremely athletic and is tremendous in transition. For such a gifted offensive player, she is also a great defender. She can defend in the post or on the perimeter. Finally, she is a very gifted rebounder who we depend on to help us get out of possessions defensively, to get our break started, and to extend possessions with offensive rebounds and stick-backs.”

"Courtney is another freshman who has shown great promise in the early going,” Gregory added. "She is very gifted athletically. After blocking over 100 shots last year as a senior in high school, she has shown that same timing and athletic prowess in the preseason. She has been working hard on her post moves and seal techniques and we are expecting big things out of her this year.”

"I think we have improved athletic ability with this group which should enable us to take some more chances on both ends,” said Gregory of his team. "Our kids understand the importance of being a solid half-court defensive team and they have worked hard to steadily improve. I think with the relative age of this team that we should be a lot better in January as our younger players get a better understanding of our system of play.”

The Lady Cougars will play eight non-conference games this year including playing in the Stephens (Mo.) College Tournament and the Defiance College Tournament. After opening the season with back-to-back home games during the first week of the season, MVNU will have just one other home game until January.

The Lady Cougars, who received a vote in the NAIA Division II preseason poll and were picked by the conference coaches to finish fifth in the AMC standings, will play 19 conference games - home and away against NAIA Division II No. 5 Shawnee State University, No. 11 Cedarville University, Walsh University (receiving votes), Wilberforce University, the University of Northwestern Ohio, and Ursuline College. MVNU will also square off with Daemen (N.Y.) College (receiving votes), Notre Dame College, Carlow (Pa.) University, Roberts Wesleyan (N.Y.) College, Houghton (N.Y.) College, Point Park (Pa.) University, and Malone University once each in their quest for a conference title.

"Former UCLA basketball coaching legend John Wooden said ‘Success is not a destination, but a journey’,” Gregory said. "Our team is preparing for the journey knowing full well that there will be plenty of highs and lows throughout the season. The key will be taking God everywhere we go, not getting too high or too low with any win or loss, and trying to turn negative situations into positive ones.”