GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Schedule (PDF)
DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (8-11, 5-6) will exit GLIAC play along with the rest of the conference for the sixth annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover in Aurora, Ill. this weekend. The Warriors will meet Indianapolis (12-8, 8-3) on Friday and Rockhurst (15-4, 9-2) and Bellarmine (10-5, 6-5) on Saturday.
At The Helm
Phil Nickel is in his sixth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 90-71. In his seven-year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 125-114. Nickel was named the 12th head coach in the history of the Wayne State University women's volleyball program on March 3, 2008, by WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier. The Warriors have qualified for the GLIAC Tournament in all five years of Nickel's tenure.
Ferris State Recap
WSU dropped its fourth straight match on Saturday afternoon at #22 Ferris State by a score of 3-2. The Warriors fell in the first set 25-13, won set two 25-20 but lost the third set 25-17. WSU forced a fifth-set tiebreaker with a dominating 25-12 set four victory. The Bulldogs took the final set 15-12 to win the match. Bulkiewicz collected her 30th career double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs Candice Ottey (Ajax, Ont.) also collected 10 kills while Madison Reeves (Indianapolis, Ind. / Avon) handed out 31 assists. WSU hit .172 while FSU hit .300.
Series History
Wayne State trails the all-time series against Indianapolis 4-1 including earlier this season at the UW-Parkside Tournament. Rockhurst also leads the all-time series 1-0 while the Warriors lead the series with Bellarmine 4-2. WSU is 9-7 all-time in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover.
2012: vs. Missouri-St. Louis (L, 1-3), vs.Southern Indiana (W, 3-1), vs.#9 Indianapolis (L,0-3)
2011: vs. Southern Indiana (W, 3-2), vs. Missouri-St. Louis (W, 3-2), vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (W,3-1)
2010: vs. #11 Lewis (L, 0-3), vs. Southern Indiana (L, 1-3), vs. Missouri S&T (L, 2-3)
2009: vs. Northern Kentucky (W, 3-2), vs. Drury (W, 3-1), vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) (W, 3-1)
2008: vs. #17 Lewis (W, 3-2), vs. Rockhurst (L, 0-3), vs. Drury (W, 3-0)
Bulkiewicz Sets Aim On Record Book
Senior outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz was named GLIAC South Division Player of the Week on Sept. 24 after leading Wayne State to a 2-0 record with a sweep at Lake Erie and a five set-thriller at Ashland. Bulkiewicz paced the Warriors' attack with 38 kills (4.75/set) over the weekend with a .235 hitting percentage and 31 digs (3.88/set). She currently has 1,172 career kills, which is eighth all-time in program history. Next up on the top-ten list is Megan Smolen (2002-05) with 1,200.
Warriors in the Polls
The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) released its 2013 Preseason Volleyball Poll on August 27 as voted on by the league's coaches. Wayne State University received three first-place votes and 44 total points and were predicted to finish second in the GLIAC South Division. The three first-place votes and 44 points both rank third out of all 16 teams.
Opening Weekend
The Warriors have fared well in recent opening weekends, posting a .500 record or better in six of the last seven years. Last season, the Warriors went 2-2 at the NSU Sharks Classic. WSU went 1-3 in 2011 at Missouri-St. Louis, 2-2 at Indianapolis in 2010, won all four matches in the 2009 WSU Invitational, posted a 3-1 record at the Cal State Monterrey Bay Otter Classic in 2008, and won two of four matches at Francis Marion in 2007.
2012 In Review
The Warriors finished tied for second last season with an 18-13 overall record including an 11-7 mark in GLIAC matches. WSU upended second-seeded Ferris State in the GLIAC Tournament before dropping a hard-fought battle with Grand Valley in the semifinals. Wayne State returns nine letterwinners including two-time First Team All-GLIAC and Honorable Mention AVCA All-Midwest Region selection, Kristen Bulkiewicz (LaSalle, Ont. / Sandwich).
2013 Captains
Phil Nickel selected his 2013 team captains as the return to campus nears for student-athletes. Jessica DeLeeuw, Carlee Hunt, Jamie Goryca and Madison Reeves will serve as the Warrior captains for the upcoming season. "This group has worked very hard to provide the leadership needed for this team to be successful, stated Coach Nickel. "They all bring different qualities to the leadership position but each have the respect and trust of their teammates and coaches. I look forward to continuing to work with them as we embark on the 2013 season."
Coaching Staff Addition
Brittany Holbrook was named assistant coach for the 2013 season. She graduated this spring from Oakland University with a bachelor's degree in social work along with a minor in sociology. Holbrook is currently pursuing a master's degree in social work from WSU. During her four-year volleyball career with the Grizzlies, she was named to The Summit League All-Freshman Team in 2009 after leading the team in hitting percentage at .295, the third highest in OU NCAA Division I history. Holbrook also recorded team-high totals with 14 solo blocks, 76 block assists and 90 total blocks.
Returning Experience
The Warriors return nine letterwinners from last season. Returners of note along with Bulkiewicz are junior Candice Ottey who was third on the team in 2012 with 237 kills and collected 68 total blocks, sophomore Essence Jackson-Jones who was second on the team last season with 127 total blocks and fourth on the team with 169 kills and sophomore Kelsey Bonewits who led the team with 140 total blocks and finished with 147 kills.
Program History
Wayne State University volleyball began in 1975 and enters the season with a 662-526 (.557) overall record. The program has won three GLIAC titles(1979, 1980, 1981), three GLIAC South titles (1996, 1997, 1998), have qualified for the GLIAC Tournament on 10 occasions (1996-99, 2005, 2008-2012) and have advanced to the NCAA Tournament on two occasions (1987, 1994).
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