DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team will begin its 2013 schedule on Friday in Allendale, Mich. in the Laker Classic hosted by Grand Valley. WSU will meet Eckerd and Adelphi on Friday and Southwest Minnesota State and Saint Leo on Saturday.
Opening Weekend
The Warriors have fared well in recent opening weekends, posting a .500 record or better in five of the last six 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 Monterey Bay Otter Classic in 2008, and won two of four matches at Francis Marion in 2007.
At The Helm
Phil Nickel is in his sixth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 83-60. In his seven-year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 117-103. 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.
A Look at the Field
Eckerd's head coach Michelle Piantadosi enters her second year serving as head coach of the program. Last season, Piantadosi led the squad to the NCAA Championship South Regional – the Tritons' sixth appearance in the last seven years. Her debut included a 21-10 overall record, going 12-4 against Sunshine State Conference teams. The Triotns lost its top offensive threat from 2012 but have junior Ali McAlvany returning who was second on the team last year with 407 kills. Eckerd, who finished the 2012 campaign second in the SSC standings, was tabbed second in the preseason poll with 54 points and received the remaining first-place vote.
Southwest Minnesota State begin the 2013 season ranked sixth in the AVCA Preseason Poll. The ranking marks the seventh consecutive season the Mustangs have been ranked in the Top 25 of the AVCA Division II Preseason Poll and third consecutive season they have began the season ranked No. 6. Southwest Minnesota State has now been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 for 93 consecutive weeks, dating back to Sept. 5, 2006. Southwest Minnesota State finished the 2012 season 30-3 overall, including its first NSIC title since 2001 and it's first ever NSIC tournament championship. SMSU made its tenth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in school history, including its ninth consecutive trip. SMSU exited the NCAA tournament in the second round after falling to Nebraska-Kearney. Head coach Terry Culhane enters his tenth season as the leader of the SMSU volleyball program in 2013. During his nine seasons as head coach, Culhane has directed the Mustangs to an overall record of 236-63, including 133-31 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches and nine NCAA tournament appearances, including six appearances in the region semifinals and one championship appearance. He begins the 2013 season ninth in the country in winning percentage among active coaches in NCAA Division II. He also begins the season ranked 25th in the country among all NCAA schools in winning percentage among active coaches.
Saint Leo was picked to finish seventh in the SSC following a 12-16 (4-12) record in 2012. Head coach Sam Cibrone on May 17, 2004, and he has led the Lions to a Sunshine State Conference championship, collected a SSC Coach of the Year honor, a NCAA Tournament regional championship appearance and countless All-Conference, All-Region and All-America honors en route to becoming the winningest coach in Saint Leo Volleyball history. St. Leo returns Tawni Warren who was second on the team last season with 256 kills.
Series History
Wayne State will meet Eckerd, Adelphi. Southwest Minnesota State and Saint Leo all for the first time in program history.
Preseason Poll
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.
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 fourht 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 enter the season with a 662-526 (.557) overall record. The program has won three GLIAC titltes (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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