Preseason girls basketball Top 25 photo shoot: A closer look at No. 1 Long Island Lutheran

The Crusaders look to win their first national championship behind coach Christina Raiti

Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), which begins the season ranked No. 1 in the SBLive Sports Power 25 preseason girls basketball rankings, seeks to win its first national crown after coming up just short last season.

The Crusaders finished 22-3 overall after losing 60-54 to Montverde Academy (Fla.) in the 2023 GEICO Nationals title game.

Long Island Lutheran is loaded with superior returning talent led by five-star seniors Kate Koval (Notre Dame commit), Syla Swords (Michigan) and Kayleigh Heckel (USC).

New York-based photographer Lonnie Webb recently staged a photo shoot for SBLive Sports with head coach Christina Raiti and her team in Long Island.

The Crusaders are scheduled to tip off the 2023-24 season on Dec. 1 vs. Catholic in Virginia.

SBLive Top 25 preseason national girls basketball rankings: Long Island Lutheran (New York) No. 1

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SBLive Top 25 preseason national girls basketball rankings: Long Island Lutheran (New York) No. 1

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(All photos and graphics by Lonnie Webb for SBLive Sports) 

Photo by Lonnie Webb

Forward/Center Kate Koval

Point guard Lauryn Swann

Forward Diora Ressaissi

Forward Savannah Swords

Guard Olivia Jones

Guard Syla Swords

Guard Coco Lohmiller

Forward Shya Hawkins

Point Guard Kayleigh Heckel

Guard Kayla Frier

 Head Coach Christina Raiti