Avery Koenen and Joe Sayler named Summit League preseason players of the year
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 6, 2026, 2:41 PM
Last updated Oct 6, 2026
College SportsAvery Koenen of North Dakota State and Joe Sayler of South Dakota State have been named the Summit League preseason players of the year. Koenen, last year's player of the year, averaged 19.4 points and 10.8 rebounds. Sayler averaged 14.5 points while shooting 41.2 percent from three-point range last season. Both players aim to lead their respective teams in the upcoming 2026-27 season as NDSU seeks its first-ever Division I NCAA tournament appearance. The preseason all-conference teams feature other notable players such as Carter Bjerke and Molly Joyce.
- •Koenen earned women's honor, Sayler named men's player of the year.
- •Koenen aims for NCAA tournament with NDSU this season.
- •Sayler started all 32 games for SDSU last year.
- •Both featured on their respective all-conference first teams.
- •NDSU was picked to finish first in the preseason poll.
- 2:41 PMYahoo Sports — Avery Koenen, Joe Sayler named Summit League preseason players of the year
"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 ...
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