Center Valley, PA (October 19, 2021) - With the start of practice just a few days old the DeSales University men's and women's basketball teams have each been recognized in the D3hoops.com Top 25 National presason polls as released by the organization on its web site this week.

The women's basketball team leads the way being ranked #9 by D3hoops.com. This is just four spots below the highest recorded ranking for the Bulldogs, which was fifth in the week #7 poll of the 2002-03 season.

DSU returns all but one player from a dominating COVID shortened 2020-21 season in which the Bulldogs posted a perfect 9-0 record and won its third straight MAC Freedom Championship.  Among the top returnees are seniors Averi Jordan and Rylie Rittenhouse, each of whom earned All-Region honors last season.  Jordan led the team in scoring averaging 15.9 points per game, while Rittenhouse totaled 10.9 points per game.  Also returning is sophomore Mikaela Reese, a year removed from earning MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year honors, and averaging 10.2 points per game.

The men's team is receiving votes in the D3hoops.com preseason poll. The Bulldogs are coming off a 9-2 COVID shortened season last year falling to Lycoming College in the MAC Freedom title game.

DeSales returns 4 of 5 starters from last year's squad including the MAC Freedom Offensive Player of the Year, Timmy Edwards, as well as the MAC Freedom Defensive Player of the Year, Keba Mitchell.  Edwards averaged 20.3 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, while Mitchell totaled 31 blocks in just 11 games played.  Also returning are seniors Matt Kachelries and Mike Bealer who each sat out last season and will return this year.  Kachelries earned All-MAC Freedom First-Team honors as a sophomore and averaged 10.1 points per game as a junior, while Bealer returns having averaged 7.7 points per game in 2019-20.