Lady Blazers Named GSC East Preseason Favorite

VSU top pick for fifth time in six seasons

VALDOSTA, Ga. - Thursday the Lady Blazers were finally able to start full-time practice, and it appears that people believe this team will be pretty good.

In the Gulf South Conference preseason coaches' poll, Valdosta State was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the GSC East, just edging out West Georgia. North Alabama rounded out the top three in the East, while Delta State was a unanimous pick to win the West. This marks the fifth time the Lady Blazers have been preseason favorites in six years.

In addition to the team recognition, point guard Leschelle Matthews was also named to the GSC Preseason Team. It comes as no surprise since she was named to the All-GSC second team last season.

Valdosta State returns 10 players and four starters, including Matthews, this year after finishing 21-9 last season with a stellar 13-1 home record.

The Lady Blazers open the season at home against Lander to open the Days INNvitational November 15 at 2 p.m. After playing Edward Waters on the second day of the tournament, VSU will meet Eckerd before the team's first road trip of the season.

On that four-game trip, the Lady Blazers will face two teams that participated in the NCAA Regional tournament last season: Tampa and Clark Atlanta. Valdosta State will also play Nova Southeastern on that trip.

After that, VSU will make a three-game home stand against Albany State, Columbus State and Delta State, the team that eliminated the Lady Blazers in both the GSC tournament and the NCAA tournament last season.

Next, VSU will travel to Washington, D.C. for a tournament before returning to face Nova Southeastern again. After a game against Albany State, the conference season will begin for the Lady Blazers at North Alabama at 7 p.m. January 7. Then VSU will be home to host West Florida, Saint Leo, Clark Atlanta, West Alabama and Alabama-Huntsville.

Then the Lady Blazers will travel to play West Georgia, but return home to meet North Alabama at 6 p.m. February 4 for the team's annual Pink Zone game. Then it will be another four-game road trip with three GSC rivals before finishing against West Georgia in the P.E. Complex at 6 p.m. February 27.

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