Valpo women's basketball fifth-year star Leah Earnest (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) was tabbed a preseason Second Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection on Tuesday as the Valley unveiled its preseason poll and All-Conference teams.
 
Earnest was a Second Team All-MVC selection for the Beacons last season, becoming the first Valpo player since 1991-92 to pace the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. She ranked sixth in the Valley in scoring and eighth in rebounding, one of only four Valley players to rank in the top-eight of both categories. Earnest scored 494 points on the season, fifth-most in a single season in program history and second-most since 1994.
 
Valpo was selected to finish in eighth place in the 12-team conference in the preseason polling of conference head coaches, SIDs and media members, two spots ahead of where the Beacons finished the regular season last year. Valpo returns seven letterwinners from that squad, while adding three transfers and three freshmen to the mix.