Westminster Men, Fontbonne Women Picked as Favorites in Pre-Season Coaches Poll

St. Louis, Mo. – The Westminster College (Mo.) men and Fontbonne University women have been chosen as the pre-season favorites in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Men's & Women's Basketball Pre-Season Coaches' Poll. The Blue Jays received seven first place votes and had a total of 71 points, while the Griffins also received seven first place votes and had a total of 71 points.

The Westminster men finished the 2009-10 season with an overall record of 20-8 and 13-3 in the SLIAC. They also captured their first outright regular season conference championship last season, and won their second Tournament Championship. The Blue Jays return senior forward, Jake Vislay, who was a First Team All-SLIAC recipient in 2009-10 and was also named to the All-Defensive Team. Vislay led his squad with 16.6 points per game and shot .520 (170-of-327) from the field, including .442 (46-of-104) from three-point range. Senior guard Kurt Kovach also returns for Westminster. Kovach was selected 2009-10 Honorable Mention All-SLIAC after averaging 10.5 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game. Another player to watch on Westminster's squad is sophomore guard Skylar Tolson. Tolson saw time in all 28 games as a freshman and finished the season with 8.0 points per game, a .392 (38-of-97) three point field goal percentage and 44 assists.

Also receiving first place votes in the men's poll was Webster University (2). The Gorloks tied for third place last season with a conference record of 10-6 and 13-13 overall. Webster received 63 total points in the coaches poll to place second. Spalding University and MacMurray College rounded out the third and fourth spots respectively with 55 and 50 points in the poll.

The Fontbonne women returned to the top of the SLIAC last season with their seventh regular season conference championship and their first since the 2002-03 season. The Griffins, who went 18-10 overall and 14-2 in the SLIAC in 2009-10, also captured their third Tournament Championship. Returning for Fontbonne this season is 2009-10 SLIAC Player of the Year Kaitlin Bramel. Bramel, a junior guard, was also a First Team All-SLIAC selection and averaged 12.6 points per game last year, while also dishing out a team-high 125 assists and tallying a team-high 62 steals. Senior guard Calli Collier also returns for the Griffins after leading her squad with 12.8 points per game last season. Collier was First Team All-SLIAC in 2009-10 and was also named the SLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player. Senior center Mallory Ludwig returns in the frontcourt after earned Honorable Mention All-SLIAC last season and averaging 10.8 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, while also recorded 26 blocks and a .542 (129-of-238) field goal percentage.

Also receiving first place votes in the women's poll were Webster University (1) and Westminster College (1). The Gorloks tied for second place last season with a conference record of 12-4 and 17-9 overall. Webster received 59 total points in the coaches poll to place second. The Blue Jays finished the 2009-10 season in fourth place with an overall record of 13-11 and 11-5 in conference play. Westminster received 51 total points in the coaches poll to place fourth. Blackburn College had 55 points in the poll to place third.

SLIAC Men's Basketball Pre-Season Poll
1 Westminster (7)
2 Webster (2)
3 Spalding
4 MacMurray
5 Eureka
6 Greenville
7 Fontbonne
8 Blackburn
9 Principia

SLIAC Women's Basketball Pre-Season Poll
1 Fontbonne (7)
2 Webster (1)
3 Blackburn
4 Westminster (1)
5 Spalding
6 Greenville
7 Eureka
   MacMurray
9 Principia