Oct. 6—SIOUX FALLS — Two of the most experienced returning players in the Summit League have been named the preseason conference players of the year by vote of the league's coaches and media.
North Dakota State's Avery Koenen, last year's Summit League player of the year, earned the women's honor, while South Dakota State guard Joe Sayler has been chosen as the 2026-27 preseason men's player of the year.
Sayler averaged 14.5 points per game for SDSU last year, shooting 41.2 percent on 3-pointers while starting all 32 Jackrabbit games.
Joining Sayler on the preseason all-conference first team are Carter Bjerke, Austin Herro and Kendall Blue of St. Thomas, Connor Dow of Oral Roberts and Andy Stefonowicz of North Dakota State.
Making up the men's second team are Kalen Garry and Jesse Van Kalsbeek of SDSU, Vince Buzelis of South Dakota, Jaylen Smith of Kansas City and Omaha's Grant Stubblefield.
Koenen averaged 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds last year for the Bison, and returns looking to take them to their first Division I NCAA tournament. NDSU was picked to finish in first place in the preseason poll after winning last year's regular season title but falling to SDSU in the conference tournament.
Joining Koenen on the preseason all-conference first team are teammates Marisa Frost, and Jocelyn Schiller, along with USD guard Molly Joyce, Elauni Bennett of UMKC and St. Thomas forward Alyssa Sand.
The second team is comprised of Katie Vasecka, Emilee Fox and Hadley Thul of SDSU, Emani Bennett of UMKC and NDSU's Karrington Asp.
