The Emporia State Lady Hornet basketball team will begin the 2008-09 season in familiar territory, starting the season nationally ranked. ESU is ranked #18 in the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25. It is the fifth straight year the Lady Hornets have opened the season in the Top 25 and ESU has received top 25 recognition every season since 1997.

The Lady Hornets return seven players that started at least four games on last year’s MIAA Championship team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 for the seventh time in 11 years.

Three-time All-American Michelle Stueve may be gone, but three players that averaged in double figures return. Cassondra Boston was the 2007 MIAA Freshman of the Year and earned second-team All-MIAA honors as a sophomore. Ida Edwards is ESU’s leading returning scorer at 13.7 points per game. She earned honorable mention All-MIAA honors despite missing seven games while sitting out due to NCAA transfer rules. Andrea Leiker is seventh in career three pointers made at ESU with 110 in her first three years. She was an honorable mention All-MIAA performer and named to the MIAA All-Defensive team as a junior.

Alli Volkens and Allie Renberg combined to start 16 games in the post last season. Sophia Lenard is the only newcomer for the Lady Hornets this season. She led Central Arizona to the NJCAA National Championship Game as a sophomore in 2007 after averaging 10.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.

The Lady Hornets will open practice on October 15 and will take the court for the first time this year at Kansas State on November 7 in exhibition action. ESU defeated the Lady Cats 64-59 in their last meeting prior to the 2006-07 season.

ESU is one of only two MIAA teams in the Top 25. The MIAA was 71-22 against non-conference teams last season, was 24-8 against the rest of the South Central Region including a 4-0 mark against other conferences in last year's regional tournament.

Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Basketball 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