#1 Anoka Ramsey Community College

Head coach David DeWitt - starting his 13th year at Anoka Ramsey - has put together a 274-90 mark over that time and welcomes a large first-year class to Coon Rapids to begin the 2018-19 season. 

The Golden Rams were 11-16 overall and 9-5 in MCAC Southern Division last winter, but Division coaches have tabbed Anoka-Ramsey as the team to beat this year.  Among the many newcomers DeWitt expects to contribute are Mikayla Homola, a transfer from NIACC; Raiyne Adams, (St. Paul Como HS); Adaya Sandifer, (St. Angnes HS)  Abby Howe, (Blaine HS), Charo Nickens, (Park Center HS),  Chyanne Nickens, (Park Center HS), Arlandus Montgomery, (St Paul Central HS), Imani Sa'eed-El, (Bloomington Kennedy HS) and MacKenna Brown, (Maple Lake HS). 

Former Ram Amanda Lindsay has moved on to St. Cloud State University, but DeWitt reports that Jessica Pelzel will be an assistant coach, starting her third year at Anoka Ramsey.  The long-time head coach notes that this year, the ARCC program is "Reasonable athletic; has good numbers and good depth; hopefully will be solid defensively". 

#2 Minnesota West CTC

MnWest head coach Rosalie Hayenga has put together a 54-38 mark in three years at the helm, including a first-place finish last fall with the LadyJays registering a 23-6 overall record and a 13-1 Southern Division mark. 

Emily Haubrich has moved on to play at Waldorf University this season, but Hayenga returns Avery Van Roekel (F, Beaver Creek, MN) and M'Kayla Mike (G, St. Thomas Virgin Islands) to provide some experience for MnWest.

First year student-athletes Emily Shaffer, (F, Worthington, MN), Emily Schroer (G, Fulda, MN),  Ashlyn Rosenberg, (P, Worthington, MN), Lexie Ramsey (G, Rock Rapids, IA), Haley Unke (G, Cottonwood, MN) and Shelby Pourier (F, Red Cloud, SD) will join forces with the handful of LadyJay returners in the 2018-19 campaign.

Hayenga notes: "We are going to be extremely young and with only one starter returning from last year we are going to be looking for players to step up and provide some scoring for us." 

Former MnWest standouts Kristen Andersen and Tanner Gunnink join Hayenga's staff this season. 

 #3 Rochester Community & Technical College

Steve Hucke is in his 17th year at RCTC and has tallied an overall record of 287-159 during that span.  He will be assisted this season by Doug Waldner, Danielle Adams, Katie Slowiak and Jalysa Cutting on the Yellowjacket bench. 

In 2017-18, RCTC finished with a 23-9 overall mark and advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament in Rockford, Illinois, capturing the Region XIIIA title along the way. Hucke notes that: "If we stay healthy we will be a contender again" in 2018-19. 

Key returners for Rochester include Grace Riley, (G, Rochester, MN),  Olivia Haug (P, Lanesboro, MN) and Abby Bauer (F, Caledonia, MN).  They will be joined by several first-year student-athletes, including Olivia Matti, (G/F, Hayfield, MN),  Lexie Worden (G, Kasson-Mantorville, MN),  Alyssa Whitson, (F, Randolph, MN) and Jadyn Anderson, (P, St. James, MN).

 #4 Ridgewater College

Head coach Jodi Holleman is in her fourth year with Ridgewater College and led her team a to 8-6 MCAC Southern Division record in 2017-18 and a NJCAA Regional Tournament appearance. 

Abby Oberg will serve as an assistant coach for the Warriors and Kendra Miller returns to lead Ridgewater on the floor.  A newcomer highlighted by Coach Holleman is Taylor Rose (Forward, Cedar Mt/Comfrey).  Coach Holleman goes on to note: "We will be very young this season with only one sophomore. We are going to hit the fundamentals hard and hope to be very competitive."

 #5 St. Cloud Technical & Community College 

Second year head coach James Fassett led the Cyclones to a 9-18 overall mark in 2017-18 and a 4-10 MCAC Southern Divison record. 

Returner Rachel Vreeland (G, Mora, MN) will be joined by newcomers Abbie Wuertz, (G Paynesville, MN),  Kiara Coops, (F Robbinsdale, MN) and Shania Nahring, (G Oglivie,MN) in leading the SCTCC squad this year.  Former Cyclone Rian Lee has moved on to Hamline University, but Anessa Rosch will serve as an assistant coach to Fassett this year. 

Fassett notes he plans for his team to "work hard and compete" in pursuit of a MCAC Southern Division top-four finish and a Region XIII playoff berth. 

 T- #6 M State-Fergus Falls

Janice Hendrickson is entering her fifth season in Fergus Falls and will be assisted by Jess Price and Krista Shaikoski in 2018-19.  

Returners to the Spartans from 2017-18 include Taylin Schleicher (F, Barrett, MN), and Kassandra Algarate  (G, Hancock, MN). They will be joined by Sydney Hovland (F, Underwood, MN),  Megan Dreger (G, Parkers Prairie, MN),  Olivia Winfrey  (G, Ada, MN)  in the hopes of moving up the MCAC Southern Division ranks this season. 

Coaches Hendrickson on Expectations for the Program in 2018: "I have high hopes for this team. We have three sophomores coming back with a lot of experience and added a strong, competitive freshman class. This team is up for the challenge to compete against the top in our division."

To follow the M State-Fergus Falls Spartans on Twitter, head to: @AthleticsMstate

T-#6 Western Technical College

Head coach Chad Dull (2nd year - 14-33 Overall) reported: "We should have good depth with six returning players and a good recruiting class. Interior size will be a concern and team defense will determine our success this season."

The Cavaliers came within one game of qualifying for the 2017-18 NJCAA Regional tournament last season, finishing with a 6-8 MCAC Southern Division mark.

Newcomers to the team include Rylee Gabel (F, Fountain City WI),  Caitlin Young (G, Holmen WI) and Lexi Schmidtknecht (G, Fountain City WI).  They will join returners  Kerrigan Lyga (F, Fountain City WI) Casey Moger (G, Winona MN) and Lexy Schroeder (G, Cashton WI) to build on the success from last season and move up the ranks of the MCAC Southern Division squads.

Western Tech's assistant coaches include Greg Dull, Megan Hackbarth and Lexy Kreider.  To follow the Cavaliers on Twitter, head to: @Westerntc