GVSU has Player of the Year, Coach of the Year
GLIAC — The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) revealed the postseason awards for the 2024-25 women’s basketball season on Friday.
The awards were determined by a vote of the league coaches.
Grand Valley State senior forward Rylie Bisballe garnered two major awards for the second consecutive season, earning GLIAC Player of the Year and GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Northern Michigan senior forward Abi Fraaza received the second annual GLIAC Sixth Woman of the Year Award. Fraaza averaged 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game off the bench for the Wildcats.
Grand Valley State guard MacKenzie Bisballe was recognized as GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Bisballe played in all 31 games, scoring 10.1 points and collecting 4.5 rebounds in 17.7 minutes of play on average,
Mike Williams, who lead Grand Valley State to the regular season conference title and a No. 2-national ranking, was honored as conference coach of the year for the fourth consecutive season.
The First, Second and Defensive All-GLIAC Teams for the 2024-25 women’s basketball season are noted below:
First Team All-GLIAC
Cassidy Arni, Parkside
Rylie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
Kenzie Bowers, Ferris State
Abrie Cabana, Grand Valley State
Nicole Kamin, Grand Valley State
Isabella Lenz, Michigan Tech
Megan McCalla, Saginaw Valley State
Mia Riley, Ferris State
Shea Tripp, Wayne State
Jacy Weisbrod, Northern Michigan
Second Team All-GLIAC
Grace Bradford, Lake Superior State
Ellie Droste, Grand Valley State
Sheridan Flauger, Parkside
Mya Hiram, Ferris State
Aleshia Jones, Saginaw Valley State
Luka Malinka, Roosevelt
Sarah Newcomer, Northern Michigan
Taylor Thompson, Wayne State
Jayla Turchin, Roosevelt
Chloe Van Zeeland, Parkside
All-GLIAC Defensive Team
MacKenzie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
Rylie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
Elle Irwin, Ferris State
Nicole Kamin, Grand Valley State
Isabella Lenz, Michigan Tech
Lydia Meredith, Saginaw Valley State
Marie Outlay, Roosevelt
Mia Riley, Ferris State
Taylor Thompson, Wayne State
Saniaa Walker, Saginaw Valley State
2024-25 GLIAC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
2024-25 GLIAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Rylie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
For the second straight season, GVSU senior forward Rylie Bisballe earned GLIAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. She becomes the third Laker to be named Player of the Year in back-to-back seasons, joining Cassidy Boensch (18-19, 19- 20) and Niki Reams (04-05, 05-06). This season, Bisballe led the Lakers with 13.5 points, shooting 51.6% from the floor, while adding 5.4 rebounds, 65 assists, 52 steals, and 25 blocks. The First-Team All-GLIAC selection scored in double-figures in 26 of the Lakers 31 contests, posting over 20 points three times. The senior had three double-doubles and has earned four Player of the Week honors this season.
2024-25 GLIAC SIXTH WOMAN OF THE YEAR
Abi Fraaza, Northern Michigan
Playing in 15 games off the bench this season, the senior from Birnamwood, Wisconsin has been stellar for the Green and Gold. Fraaza is averaging 8.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 49-75 (65.3%) from the field, a mark that would have comfortably put her atop the GLIAC, but she fell just short of minimum requirements. She’s also been productive at the free throw line, converting on 35-45 (77.8%) attempts. Playing primarily out of the low post, Fraaza has had a keen eye for finding the open teammate, averaging 1.7 assists per game with eight multi-assist outings, including each of the last five to close out the regular season. She played a huge role in helping Northern secure the conference’s No. 2 seed down the stretch, averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 76.9% from the field over her last three that included a season-high 20 points against Parkside in just 22 minutes of work.
2024-25 GLIAC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Mackenzie Bisballe, Grand Valley State
MacKenzie Bisballe was selected as the GLIAC Freshman of the Year. Bisballe was second on the Lakers averaging 10.1 points, shooting 56.3% from the field, and pulled down 4.5 rebounds a contest. A member of the league’s all-defensive team, she led the conference with 47 blocks, ranking 32 nd nationally, while adding 37 steals and 38 assists. She upped her scoring to over 12 points during conference play, scoring in double-figures in 12 league games and 14 times overall. A one-time GLIAC Player of the Week, Bisballe becomes the fifth Laker to be named GLIAC Freshman of the Year.
2024-25 GLIAC COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Williams, Grand Valley State
Grand Valley State head coach Mike Williams has been named the GLIAC Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season, and the fifth time in his career. Williams has guided the Lakers to a 29-2 record and the fourth consecutive league title. GVSU is ranked second nationally and first in the Midwest Region heading into the conference tournament. This season, the Lakers have the nation’s second-ranked scoring offense (85.4 ppg) and the country’s eighth-ranked scoring defense (52.6 ppg). The Lakers had four players earn all-conference honors, either first or second team, and three were named to the All-Defensive team. Williams has posted a record of 269-49 during his tenure in Allendale and is the winningest coach in program history.
