GRINNELL, Iowa - The Grinnell College women's basketball team is hoping to benefit from the experience that the youthful team gained last season.  With the loss of two senior starters, Daria Guzzo '19 and Hanna Kessel '19, the Pioneers will look to fill those spots and foster a competitive environment night in and night out. 
 
"Our youth was as exciting as it was frustrating at times last year," said Grinnell coach Dana Harrold, whose team opens the season Friday night at Central College in Pella, "Although we do still have a pretty young squad, we are gearing up to capitalize on the valuable experience our juniors and sophomores have gained last season and the season prior."
 
Team captains are senior center Mikayla Kricfalusi '20 and junior guard Kathryn Stender '21. As the lone senior, Kricfalusi is looking to turn in a full and healthy final season."
 
 "Mikayla brings vocal leadership, interior experience and a strong ability to sprint the floor and rebound the basketball," said Harrold. "Mikayla has seen a fair share of injures throughout her career but she has battled back and is looking ahead to a healthy senior season."
 
Besides Stender, the junior class includes Tyria Heath '21, Olivia Woolam '21, Claire Collier '21 and Stephany Dos Santos '21.
 
"Tyria has started almost every game in her first two years and is excited and ready to take on an even bigger role this season on both sides of the ball," said Harrold of last season's leading scorer at 12 points per game. "Kathryn is returning from her knee injury and is hungry to compete. She is a high basketball IQ player who will look to knock down shots and crash the glass for us. Olivia is rehabbing from a spring knee injury and hopes to return sometime in the second semester.  Claire is back from a full season out last year and hoping to find a role within the team and Steph is challenging our post players in practice and looking to improve each day."
 
The sophomore class is comprised of Kate Tomczik '22, Sofia Ahooja '22, Sasha Thomas '22, Aidan Coalson '22, Ellie Gubbrud '22 and Orion Shirley '22. 
 
"Kate saw a lot of time last year as a first-year and we look for her to help us again as both a scorer, defender and rebounder," said Harrold. "Her versatility makes her a fun player to watch so we are excited to see what she can do with a year of starting experience under her.  Sofia and Sasha saw a lot of time for us at the guard spots last year.  They both have the ability to handle the ball and make some exciting plays.  We plan to use Sofia more in the point guard role and Sasha as an off guard when possible.  Aidan can be a difference-maker for us and we have been working on her discipline on defense as well as her ability to score from multiple spots on the floor.  Ellie is a strong player who rebounds really well and has the ability to help make our post players better.  Orion is a hard-working player who is always working to challenge our starting group each day in practice."
The first-year class includes Annie Filkins '23, Aliya Singleton '23 and Emmy Nyquist '23.  "We are excited about all three of these players and hope to see them work hard to contribute early in their playing careers," said Harrold.
 
The Pioneers, who were 8-16 overall last season and 6-12 in the Midwest Conference, are seeking marked improvement in 2019-20. "Our team is goal-oriented each day and has been working to find tangible things that they can achieve each practice and eventually each game," Harrold explained. "They challenge each other to work harder and get better each day. We are focused on player development, working well as a team and competing from beginning to end of each game.
 
"Our focus is to be competitive within the Midwest Conference and seize the opportunity to get better each time we are in the gym," she added. "As always, I think the MWC will be competitive and every team from the top down will be able to compete and win on any given night.  We are excited about that competition and hope to see ourselves learn and grow with every game."