VALDOSTA, Ga. – Coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history, the Valdosta State women's basketball team opens the 2024-25 season at No. 25 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Preseason Top 25.  
 
The Lady Blazers finished the 2023-24 season with a 30-3 record overall and a 23-1 mark in Gulf South Conference play, winning both the GSC regular season and tournament titles.  VSU hosted its first NCAA South Regional, falling in the Round of 32 to Nova Southeastern, snapping a stretch of 27-straight victories.  VSU's 27^th-straight victory, and 30^th overall, came in a 66-55 win over Miles College in the first round of the NCAA South Regional tying the school-record for victories in a season as the 1984 team went 30-2.  
 
Defending National Champion Minnesota State headlines the preseason poll, followed by Texas Women's, Grand Valley State, Tampa and Ashland (Ohio) rounds out the top five.  GSC foe Union is eighth, while Nova Southeastern is 16^th from the South Region and the Lady Blazers are 25^th.  Lee is among others receiving votes from the GSC, along with Miles and Savannah State from the region.  VSU plays at No. 17 Georgia Southwestern on Nov. 21, as GSW is in the Southeast Region. 
 
Click here for the WBCA Preseason Top 25. 
 
Heading into the 2024-25 season, the Lady Blazers are under the direction of new head coach Chandler Merkerson who inherits a number of familiar faces including senior Victoria Ikenasio who earned preseason all-league honors.  She saw action in 30 games with 28 starts a season ago and averaged 8.6 points per game and a team-high 5.7 rebounds per game for the Lady Blazers.  Ikenasio went 112 of 231 from the field (.485).  She tallied 27 assists with 12 steals and a team-high 18 blocks.  She had 12 games in double figures and recorded one double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds against Alabama Huntsville (Mar. 2). 
 
Along with Ikenasio, seniors, India Jordan, Jacey Justice and Courtney Stothard, along with sophomore Erin Whalen.  Merkerson has eight newcomers, including seniors Kiersten Nelson and Jillian Schenk, along with junior Aryana Hicks who were named to the GSC Newcomer Watchlist.  VSU was picked third in the GSC Preseason Coaches' Poll.