BLOG 5: New-look Bulldog women still highly rated in GLIAC

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State’s Caitlin Hutchison gains control of the basketball as she prepares to make a move to the basket (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris women’s basketball head coach Tracey Dorow once again returns a team that is highly thought of if the 2008-09 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll is any indication.

Dorow’s squad was picked third in the GLIAC’s North Division with 121 points behind first-place Michigan Tech with 29 first-place votes and 179 points and second-place Grand Valley State with one first-place vote and 121 points. Behind the Bulldogs are fourth-place Lake Superior, with 97 points; fifth-place Saginaw Valley, with 53 points; and sixth-place Northern Michigan, with 43.

While Ferris returns one of the top guards in the conference, in senior guard Teghan Thelen, the team does have big shoes to fill thanks to the graduation of 6-foot-1 center Rachel Folcik (playing professionally in Portugal), who had evolved into a go-to scorer for the Bulldogs by the end of her career. Thelen, who has a great touch from the perimeter and averaged 10.4 points last season, is working to expand her game to use her dribble drive as a weapon to perhaps give her additional space to fire off her jumper. Thelen was named a member of the 2008-09 preseason All-GLIAC team.

This season’s poll had no major surprises as Tech is thought to be the top team in the North Division – and perhaps the league overall – while Hillsdale is expected to lead the way in the South Division.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com