INDIANAPOLIS-  The Greyhound women's basketball team is ranked fourth in the 2009-10 Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll, released this week.  Michigan Tech is the preseason favorite, a year after winning the Midwest region en route to the Elite Eight.

UIndy (24-10 in 2008-09) enters the season returning most of the nucleus of a club that made its first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance a season ago.  Nine players return to the fold, all of whom averaged at least 13 minutes last year, giving third-year Head Coach LeAnn Freeland a bevy of options for the '09-10 campaign.  Included in that mix are Great Lakes Valley Conference First Teamer junior Samantha Meissel and senior leaders Jessica Canary, a GLVC Second Team selection, and Katie Dewey.  

Four Midwest region teams appear in the preseason poll, led by the Huskies at No. 1, UIndy fourth, Grand Valley State at No. 13 and Northern Kentucky at No. 18.  Among the other notables in the poll include defending national-champion Minnesota State, Mankato (12), national finalist Franklin Pierce (2), national semifinalists Delta State (3) and Alaska-Anchorage (14) as well as Elite Eight participants fifth-ranked California (Pa.), West Texas A&M (15) and Clayton State (16).
 
The Greyhounds ended the season ranked 24th in the USA Today/ESPN/Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Final Poll.  The full Division II Bulletin 2009-10 Preseason Poll is below. Copies of the publication can be ordered at smallcollegehoops.com.

1. Michigan Tech
2. Franklin Pierce (N.H.)
3. Delta State (Miss.)
4. Indianapolis
5. California (Pa.)
6. Stonehill (Pa.)
7. Emporia State (Kan.)
8. Fort Lewis (Colo.)
9. Holy Family (Pa.)
10. UC San Diego
11. Central Oklahoma
12. Minnesota State Mankato
13. Grand Valley State (Mich.)
14. Alaska Anchorage
15. West Texas A&M
16. Clayton State (Ga.)
17. Tampa (Fla.)
18. Northern Kentucky
19. Indiana (Pa.)
20. Philadelphia (Pa.)
21. Gannon (Pa.)
22. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.)
23. West Liberty (W.Va.)
24. Seattle Pacific (Wash.)
25. Columbus State (Ga.)