Season preview: Grant

Grant

Coach: Matt Lukemeyer (first season)

Last season: 12-16, 7-5 NSC Prairie

Key players lost: F Donnie Taggart, So. Kaylie Kanzler (ACL)

Returning players: Sr. G Kassie Stimpson, Sr. G Morgan Jahnke, Sr. G/F Bri Miller, Sr. F Caitlin Wedge, Sr. F Ashley Burrows, Sr. G Jenny Leding, Sr. G Brittany Glover

Newcomers: Jr. F Bethani Jacobsen, Jr. G Tania Trbojevich, Jr. G Sadie Contreras, Jr. F AnaRose Hebein, Jr. F Emily Kerr, Jr. G Taylor Rossi, So. G McKenzie Burton

Season opener: Grant at Mundelein tournament, 4:30 p.m. Monday

Outlook: A Grant alumnus replaces another on the Bulldogs' bench, as Matt Lukemeyer takes over from John Eiduke, whose teams won 12 games in each of the last two seasons. Lukemeyer, a 2003 graduate who was the head freshman girls coach the last two years, inherits a squad that has already suffered one blow. Sophomore guard Kaylie Kanzler, who started on varsity last winter, is out for the season after tearing her ACL. "She was looking very good," Lukemeyer said. "So that one hurts." The Bulldogs boast some other veterans in senior guards Kassie Stimpson, Morgan Jahnke (a three-point threat) and Bri Miller. The Bulldogs won't be the tallest team, but they have some athletes, including sophomore guard McKenzie Burton. "I like them a lot," Lukemeyer said. "I'm really optimistic. I think they can do some good things. They always come ready to work. They never take a day off. Our seniors have great leadership (qualities), and our juniors, they're the nicest kids, but they work their tails off, along with our sophomore. ... We need our juniors and sophomore to step up and help out the seniors and play as a team. If we can do that then we will have a successful season."