ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The UMSL Tritons women's basketball team has been more anxious than a kid on Christmas Eve.

Month after month, waiting, conditioning, and now enduring two-hour practice sessions -- have all led to this moment.

For the Tritons coaching staff, players, parents and fans: the time is now.

UMSL (13 points and one first-place vote) is ranked second in the GLVC Central Division this year in the preseason coaches' poll, trailing Truman State (16 points and four first-place votes).

The Tritons head to Illinois State University Wednesday for their first live action against players not donning an UMSL jersey.

After producing a 12-8 record last season, and with a strong, experienced returning core this winter, the Tritons have placed high hopes upon their shoulders.

The team opens play Nov. 12 at Grand Valley State, but before that, two exhibition games: the aforementioned Nov. 3 tilt at Illinois State (Missouri Valley Conference) and Nov. 6 at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (Ohio Valley Conference).

Head coach Katie Vaughn enters her 10th season at the helm for the Tritons, and the Central Missouri alum has amassed a 167-156 record during her time at UMSL -- making her the winningest coach in program history.

The gym doors at Chuck Smith Court opened July 5, and so far, Vaughn has approved from what she has seen during the offseason program -- from conditioning to team chemistry to communication: all of which are crucial for a successful 2021-22 campaign.

"We are going to do some different things this year, just having such a  veteran team," Vaughn said, "a lot of upperclassmen and returners. Just being able to piece it together with the right combinations. In practice, you don't always get to do that because you don't want to overload one team. That is what I am most excited about [regarding] exhibition play, is being able to see those combinations. Try out new things that we want to do. Really just build off last year. Be able to pick up where we left off and see it push forward is exciting."

This season -- hopefully -- will be the antithesis of last year from a COVID and reshuffling perspective.

"It has changed a few times," Vaughn said of the preseason schedule. "We were scheduled to play them [Illinois State] last year, but because of COVID ... so we carried through [to] this year. We played SIUE before, we played SLU before. I really schedule just based off our ... where I feel like our team is. Every year is different just based off our personnel."

Turnover throughout collegiate athletics doesn't really differ from corporate America, and while players come and go via transfers and graduations, one element that does not alter is the talent that resides within the GLVC.

Vaughn addressed the 2021-22 conference landscape.

"I think like every year -- from top to bottom -- it is going to be a game every game. Any team is capable of knocking of a team," Vaughn said. "Even last year, Rockhurst went to Drury and beat Drury. That was a surprise, obviously. And I think that says it all about this conference. You cannot take a night off, but Drury definitely is going to be at the top. They return most of their starters. And they have added some transfers who are really dynamic. After that, though, we didn't get to see Southern Indiana last year because of COVID, so they will be an interesting one. Truman is going to be tough. They return a bunch of sharp players. A lot of players in our conference are back because of COVID. We have Alex LaPorta and Danni [Danielle Berry who] got to stay. In my opinion, I think it is a competitive ... for us, we can compete and play for something. We can play for a championship, knowing our personnel and what is out there. It is very doable, very reachable."

Having such a competitive conference makes it a more level playing for field, and for Vaughn and her Tritons, they prefer that type of ambience.

"I came from MIAA [Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association] before UMSL, and I played at MIAA, which is a very competitive conference, a lot like this," Vaughn said. "It is very similar, the top to the bottom, there isn't a huge gap in there. So that is all I have known. It's what I am used to. When I was in junior college, there would be nights where you would blow out someone in your league by 40, and then the next night you would get beat by 20. I like it this way where you have to prepare, get your team ... challenge our team to be the best we can be at what we do, and then we tweak things based on who we are playing. We hone in on what we do and let's do it really well."

The offseason -- much like a solid financial portfolio -- is already paying a return on the investment.

The senior class has come in, asserted leadership and responsibility, and already is grooming the younger players -- not just for this season but for the future.

While not every senior utilizes a vocal style of leadership, each one brings a different variable to the table.

"You know, our seniors, they busted their tails this offseason. When we opened up July 5 and coaches could work with them, Alex LaPorta, Danielle Berry, Faye Meissner, they were here. Now some kids went home, but those kids who were here, they were: 'Hey, Coach, we want to work with you. We want to get in the gym. We want you to work with us.' And that carried [over to] August, September. And, now, we have our two-hour practices. It has been great to see that extra effort," Vaughn said. "That just sends a message as to what they want to accomplish this year."

The Tritons have a nice mixture on the roster this year, from seniors to newcomers, and that mix is beginning to take shape from chemistry and communication standpoints.

Newcomers this year include freshmen Mallory Ronshausen, Jalysa Stokes, and Tori Standefer.

"They start to mimic them [seniors]. Already they are talking our language," Vaughn said of the underclassmen. "They are mirroring what we want as our foundation. Every year we try to add another layer. Obviously, these seniors have been here and have put in the work, and you can see these freshmen looking up to them. There aren't any questions. It is what it is."

One senior who will heavily be leaned upon this season is Kiara Stewart, who enters this season seventh-all time in program history with 583 rebounds.

Stewart said she expects to build off what was established during the COVID year.

"Last season, we really found a rhythm within our identity. We are returning a lot. We have grown a lot each year by having that experience," Stewart said. "We added a few new pieces to the team that I strongly believe can come in and add different looks [against] other teams. Relationships [and] communication are vital to our success. Being a united front with the same goals and effectively communicating will be key."

Vaughn said chemistry and communication off the hardwood is crucial in sustaining success.

"We have been very blessed to have high-character kids who come from good homes," Vaughn said. "They all have that same likeness. They bond on their own. They do click outside of basketball. They truly do love and like each other, and that just carries over to the floor. The chemistry, it starts there."

Staying healthy is paramount to season success, and right now the Tritons have 11 healthy players, which will be needed to navigate through a long season.

"We need to keep it that way with short numbers," Vaughn said. "We need to keep a gauge on them and where their bodies are. Whether it is mental or physical health, we are honing in on that."

One other item that is illuminating Vaughn's keys-to-success list this season is expansion.

Added Vaughn: "Being able to keep adding to our playbook. Having a mature group, we cannot be so scoutable. [We must] keep adding things. I don't change a lot from year to year, so being able to keep tweaking things, the kids have really polished up what we do well, [and] now we can add some things."

With the preseason rankings being published last week by the GLVC office, some players take it with a grain of salt.

Some, on the other hand, use it to flame the internal fire.

Stewart said while the preseason rankings are just that, predictions, they don't go unnoticed.

Said Stewart: "I think, as a whole, we want that end goal. Not only make the GLVC Tournament but to win it," Stewart said. "So, yes, preseason rankings are more of a motivation. We were picked in the [second] spot, and I know everyone on the UMSL team knows and are willing to do whatever it takes to get to that number one spot. No excuses!"

Up close with Kiara Stewart: 2020-21

* 2nd-Team All-GLVC.

* 11.8 points per game and 9.1 rebounds per game (5th in GLVC).

* Shot 56 percent from the field, which also was 5th in the GLVC.

* Led the GLVC with 4.17 offensive rebounds per game.

*Authored 7 double-doubles.