Valparaiso University has been predicted to finish in ninth place in the league’s 2010-2011 preseason women’s basketball poll according to the voting done by the conference’s head coaches, the league’s sports information directors, and selected media members.

Seventeenth-year head coach Keith Freeman returns eight letterwinners, including three starters from last year’s team which went 9-21 overall and 6-12 in the Horizon League, tying for seventh place.

The Crusaders tallied 82 points in the preseason poll to place ninth, just two behind predicted eight place finisher Wright State.

Green Bay was picked to win the league crown for the 13th straight season followed by Butler and Detroit.  Cleveland State and UIC tied for fourth in the poll, followed by Milwaukee and Loyola (Chicago).  Youngstown State was selected 10th.

The voting, awards 10 points for a first place vote through one point for a tenth place vote.

Valparaiso will begin exhibition play on November 2. hosting Grace at 7:05 p.m. with the game carried live on the Horizon League Network.  The regular season opens November 12 in Chicago in the first round of the Preseason WNIT against DePaul.  Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.