Oakland Tops 2022 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
INDIANAPOLIS (August 17, 2022) – 2021 regular season and championship runner-up Oakland finished atop the 2022 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll. The Golden Grizzlies earned five first-place votes to earn the top spot in voting done by the League’s 11 head coaches.
After a strong 2021 campaign, posting a 9-1-1 League regular season record and advancing to the championship match, Oakland (115 points) returns All-League First Team and All-Tournament Team selections Kendra Zak and Sami Lopez and All-Second Team honorees Karabo Dhlamini and Alexa Sabbagh.
Four-time defending champion Milwaukee (108 points) was voted second, receiving five first place votes after posting a perfect 11-0 League record in the regular season and collecting a win over Xavier in the NCAA Tournament. The Panthers are led by new head coach Kevin Boyd and bring back All-Freshman Team members Clara Broecker and Kat Van Booven.
Coming in third place is Northern Kentucky (96 points). The Norse finished third (7-4) in the 2021 regular season and return Freshman of the Year Lydia Self and All-League First Team selection Kaya Vogt.
Cleveland State placed fourth in the poll with 74 points. The Vikings were 5-5-1 in League matches last season. Green Bay (65 points) finished fifth, followed by Wright State (60 points) in sixth.
IUPUI (55 points) collected the seventh spot in the poll followed by Purdue Fort Wayne (51 points) and Youngstown State (49 points). Detroit Mercy (28 points) and RMU (25 points) rounded out the poll.
The regular season begins for all 11 teams with non-League play on Thursday, Aug. 18 while Horizon League play opens on Thursday, Sept. 15. The 2022 championship will open up with quarterfinal action on Oct. 30 followed by the semifinals and championship on Nov. 3 and 5.
2022 #HLWSOC Preseason Poll
Pl. Team – Pts. (First-place votes)
1. Oakland (5) – 115
2. Milwaukee (5) – 108
3. Northern Kentucky – 96
4. Cleveland State – 74
5. Green Bay – 65
6. Wright State – 60
7. IUPUI – 55
8. Purdue Fort Wayne – 51
9. Youngstown State (1) – 49
10. Detroit Mercy – 28
11. RMU – 25