Kristina Haring  #00  5'5"  FR  G
Clare / Tom Kleinhart

...outstanding handler from the Central area of Michigan ...hard nosed defender with a never-say-die attitude that you look for in a floor leader…expected to challenge for playing time at the point guard position…strong work ethic and good attitude have caught the coaches attention in early drills...very good perimeter shooter who can also get to the basket...President of the local FCA campus huddle…Liberal Arts major who wants to compete at the next level ... Favorite player - Michael Jordan

Coach’s Comments:  “This young lady is intensity, defined.  Gives constant effort in practice and makes everyone around her work hard because of it.  Because of her attitude, I believe she will be part of our success here – and beyond.”

Colleen Callen  #4  5'8"  FR  G/F
Galesburg Augusta / Dan Molton

…perhaps the best player to come out of the Rams program ever…KVA All-Star and team MVP her last two years…capable of playing several positions…good handling skills...works very hard at the game and loves it…Co-Valedictorian of her graduating class and a member of the Honors College here at KVCC …Studying Pre-med…loves just sitting back and watching TV when not working on the basketball floor or the class room…Favorite Player – Cynthia Cooper

Coach’s Comments:  “One of Colleen’s strengths is her versatility.  She can play a lot of different positions from point guard to small forward, which adds to her value on the team. Time on the court this year will be determined by how she adjusts to the level of play and also on how she defends.  She wants to play at the next level and with continued effort, can make that happen.”

Maureen Welch   #5   5'6"   SO   G/F
Hackett Catholic Central / Bill Andree

…one of our best shooters who has also learned a great deal defensively…brings great intensity to the floor and needs to continue to focus on channeling her emotions into something positive for the team…playing time this year will be dependent on how she is able to defend and her leadership skills…as our only returning sophomore,  she will be looked at to provide the younger players with direction as to how we do things …Psychology major who would someday like to coach …Favorite player – Dawn Staley

Coach’s Comments:  “Maureen’s being part of this team is one of the most rewarding things I have done in coaching. Having one of my children play for me is exciting, yet poses a challenge for both of us. I believe that last year was a good learning year for “Mo” and having “been there,”  she will be a leader for us this year.   Mo is a tremendous student of the game and has dedicated herself to doing whatever it takes to help this team be successful. Her drive and determination will fuel her continued improvement as a player.”

Tara Butcher  #10  5'6"  FR  G
Mattawan / Troy Wright

…highly sought after point guard from Coach Wright’s extremely successful program at Mattawan where she was MVP as a senior…1^st team All Conference in the very competitive SMAC…Class “A” All State as a senior…top ten in Michigan for made 3 pointers…four year honor roll student with perfect attendance over her four years in high school…secondary education major with a History emphasis who loves to go dancing as relaxation …Favorite Player – Sheryl Swoopes

 Coach’s Comments:   “When Tara told us last year that she was coming to Valley, I knew we had the foundation of a strong recruiting class.  She’s an outstanding floor leader that makes the right pass at the right time and will continue the tradition of fine point guards established by Rae Eyer and Annie Roys.  To have a point guard that is capable of double digit scoring, plays well defensively,  and can handle and distribute the ball as well is a luxury.  I feel we have been blessed to have two that fill that mold.”

Melba Melton  #12  5'7"  FR G/F
North Muskegon / Sarah Knuth

…tough luck player who as a sophomore was All State and then had ACL tears in opposite knees over the next two years …battled back to gain All Muskegon Area first team and All Conference honors her senior season…outstanding on the ball defender with great hand and foot quickness for whom the sky is the limit...continued hard work on her perimeter shot will add to her ability to get to the basket …her enthusiasm for the game and attitude have caught the coach's eye and as she gets stronger and gets used to the speed and quickness of the college game, she will improve rapidly ...Psychology major who loves to shop in her spare time...Favorite player–Kobe Bryant

 Coach’s Comments:   “What a wonderful athlete Melba is!  We were very pleased that she decided to continue her educational and basketball career here at KVCC.  Her cousin Dominick played on the men’s team the last two years; I think that weighed into her decision.  What ever it was, we’re happy she’s here and I think she may be the “sleeper” of this fine class.  As she gets stronger and develops more of an understanding of the college game, she could be a very special player.”

Sarah Harris  #14  5'5"  FR  G
Edwardsburg / Mark Zarycki

…perhaps the best of the young “guns” as a pure shooter…3 sport athlete for the “Eddies”……MVP and 1^st team All Conference in basketball…4 year Honor Roll student…National Honor Society…has potential to contribute to a program at the next level and is being counted on to provide much needed depth for our team this year…playing time will probably be dependent on how she defends against bigger and quicker guards…Physical Therapy/Physical Education major whose favorite pastime is playing soccer…Favorite Player – Vince Carter

 Coach’s Comments:   “Sarah Harris can flat out shoot the basketball!  It makes me look forward to teams trying to play zone against us!  She will have to make the usual freshman adjustments to the speed and pace of the game,  but we feel she will contribute to the success of this team.”

Amy VanderBent  #20  5'9"  FR  G/F
Kalamazoo Christian / Jeff Droog

…a big part of the continuing success at K- Christian last year…All KVA in both basketball and soccer…..All State in soccer her last two years…an Honor Roll student who was awarded the National Scholar/Athlete Award by the Army Reserve…Studying to be an Athletic Trainer …wants to attend WMU and possibly keep playing basketball…very good shooter out to the arc who can also penetrate the defense and make something happen ...she will become a very solid college player as she becomes stronger and learns more about the game…has been blessed with great quickness and speed which when harnessed will make her very dangerous as a player…Favorite player – Grant Hill

 Coach’s Comments:  “Amy is a ‘walk on’ in our program and has shown us in early practices that she will add to the depth of our team.  She is a fine player who can play several positions. The contribution she makes this year will depend on her ability to defend against players that are just as quick & stronger than she is.  She has the tools and the size to play at the next level.” 

Alynn Vanden Bosch  #22  6'1"  FR  G/F
Grand Rapids Christian / Al VanDenBosch
 
…outstanding player from Coach VanDen Bosch’s fine program at G.R. Christian…All City and All Area as a senior…selected to play in the prestigious Ta-Wa-Si Invitational after her senior season…outstanding  shooter out to the arc who can also go inside and make things happen …brings a great winning attitude to our program…played for the very successful Western Lakers AAU team that finished in the top ten in the nation…course of study is undecided at this point… loves “hanging out with friends”…Favorite player – David Robinson  

Becca Cline  #24  5'8"  FR  G/F
Three Rivers / Brian Burg

…one of the top guards in the area the last two years…All State as a junior and senior…Wolverine Conference All Star for all four years …graduated with Honors; member of National Honor Society …good shooter out to the arc and can also get to the basket off the dribble …extremely competitive athlete who is a tenacious defender…favorite past time is hanging out with friends …course of study will take her in to forensic science and hopefully lead to a career with the FBI or CIA…wants to continue to play at a four year school …her Favorite players are Michael Jordan and Chamique Holdsclaw.

 Coach’s Comments:  “This young lady is one of the strongest girls we have ever recruited.  She jumps extremely well and can run the floor with the best of them.  Becca is very good at both ends of the floor.  She has had some pre- season set backs physically, but is progressing nicely. At full strength she will be one of our stronger players.  She’s very capable of playing at the next level and with continued hard work and good health that will happen.”

Mary Small  #30  5'7"  FR  G
Niles / Jim Arnold

…opened a lot of eyes as a walk on during pre-season drill work…solid perimeter player from Coach Jim Arnold’s excellent program at Niles…All conference SMAC honorable mention as a senior…graduated with honors from Niles…good shooter out to the arc...her course of study is physical therapy…favorite pastime is “hanging out” with friends…Favorite player – Tamika Catchings

 Coach’s Comments:  “What a pleasant surprise!  This lady is one of our hardest workers, is a student of the game and plays the game under control.  She has impressed our staff with her hustle and desire since she started joining us for summertime workouts.  Needs to work to get physically stronger and take her determination to be successful onto the basketball floor every game as she learns the pace and flow of the college game.” 

Erin Palmer  #32  6'0"  FR  G/F
Centreville / Sheila Moore

…one of the best kept secrets in Southwest Michigan…MVP of her high school program and St. Joe Valley conference All Star as a junior and senior…also a member of the area “Dream Team”…can shoot it from distance or take it inside and make something happen…3 sport Conference All Star in high school…All Conference player for KVCC’s  successful volleyball program…undecided as to her course of study…outstanding in the classroom as well, graduating in the Top Ten of her class…wants to play either volleyball or basketball at a four year school in the future…Favorite players – Lisa Leslie and Kobe Bryant

Coach’s Comments:   “Erin is a classic example of an outstanding player playing at a small school and not getting the attention she deserved.  She will be a strong contributor to our program on a lot of levels.  She’s a great player, an excellent student, and has fine leadership skills.  Our expectations are high and I know she will not disappoint us.  We look for her to be one of our leaders this year.”

Darina Parker  #34  5'9"  FR  G/F
Saline / Mike Karapas

…comes to us from the fine program at Saline where she was named the “best offensive player” as a senior…brings great strength and athleticism to the team…strong inside player who needs to continue to work on her perimeter game to become the all around player she can be…very well could be the surprise of the league this year…outstanding student that is planning on going on to Med school and getting her PHD in Psychology…Favorite player – Kobe Bryant

Coach’s Comments:    “What an athlete!  “D” does some things on the floor that others only dream of.  When she learns to play under control all of the time she will be virtually unstoppable. She will challenge for playing time and as she gains confidence will provide another weapon in the Lady Cougar attack.  We are looking for great things from her this year as she becomes more familiar with her teammates and our system.”

Kate Martisius  #40  6'3"  FR  C
Hastings / Steve Laubaugh

…work ethic made her the “Most Improved Player” two years running at Hastings…outstanding shot blocker defensively…honor roll student all four years…contribution this year will be determined by how quickly she make the adjustment to the quickness and physical style of play at the college level…runs the floor well and has a toughness in the post that we feel will make her a fine college post player at some point for us…leaning toward a career in  business management of some kind…doesn’t really have a Favorite player

 Coach’s Comments:   “Kate has shown tremendous development in early drill work and a great desire to learn and improve her skills.  We are confident she will continue to progress as the season goes on and provide us with always needed depth in the post.  She has a very competitive attitude emerging and as she becomes more confident and is a bit more aggressive she will be a force in the paint for us.  She’s working hard toward that end every day in practice and we’re glad she’s here!”