FRIDAY @ FINDLAY:  Live Stats  |  Live Video

SATURDAY vs. HILLSDALE:  Live Stats  |  Live Video


HOMECOMING WEEKEND
The Wayne State University volleyball team will make a trip to the University of Findlay on Friday night before hosting Hillsdale at 4:00 on Saturday as part of Homecoming. Hillsdale and Wayne State come into this weekend as the top two teams in the South Division, and the Warriors are looking to avenge a 3-0 loss to the Chargers on Sept. 7 which opened conference play.


WEEK IN REVIEW
Wayne State went 2-1 against North Division opponents last week, beginning with last Friday night's 3-1 win over Saginaw Valley State, snapping a four-year drought against the Cardinals. The Warriors went on to defeat Ferris State in five sets on Saturday, ending a losing skid against FSU dating back to 1998. Despite Sunday's 3-0 setback to GVSU, Wayne State is in sole possession of second place in the South.

Middle blocker Katarzyna Sak finished the weekend with 44 kills, 16 blocks and seven service aces. She was named GLIAC South Division Player of the Week for the first time in her career. Outside hitter Madie Kent and setter Cydney Biessel each had two double-doubles on the weekend, as Kent totaled 25 kills and 30 digs in the three matches while Biessel averaged 10.25 assists per set and posted 32 digs.


SCOUTING FINDLAY
Facing the same three opponents as Wayne State did a week ago, the Oilers lost all three contests at home and have dropped four of their last five conference matches.  Nonetheless, Findlay comes into Friday's meeting with the Warriors at 7-6 overall this season.  Findlay's top hitter this season is junior Jessica VonIns, who ranks seventh in the conference in hitting percentage (.309).

Wayne State will look to extend its four-match winning streak against Findlay which dates back to September 2008.  Both meetings last season resulted in five-set wins for the Warriors.


SCOUTING HILLSDALE
The first-place Chargers, coming into the weekend 8-0 in GLIAC play and 11-1 overall, have dropped only two sets all season to conference opponents. Saturday's match is the first of four road contests, as Hillsdale heads to Findlay on Sunday, Northwood on Friday and Lake Superior State next Saturday.

Hillsdale is the top hitting (.270) and blocking (2.76 per set) team in the conference, led up front by juniors Ashlee Crowder (161 K, .300 pct) and Clara Leutheuser (54 B, .300 pct). Sophomore Lauren Grover is another blocking threat, while junior setter Apryl Schmucker is among the GLIAC leaders in assists and service aces.

Wayne State will try and snap a three-match losing skid to Hillsdale, a streak which started after the Warriors won three straight in 2008.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is in his third season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 43-26. In his four-plus year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 77-69. Wick Colchagoff is 276-159 in his 13th season at Findlay and 356-218 in his 17th season overall.  Chris Gravel has amassed a career mark of 291-174 in his 14th season at Hillsdale.


LOOKING AHEAD
Wayne State's next five matches will be on the road. The Warriors will travel to Northwood on Friday and Lake Superior State on Saturday before heading to Aurora, Ill., for three matches at the third annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover.


WARRIOR NOTEBOOK
Sak comes into the weekend nationally ranked third in blocks (1.49 per set) and points (5.38), 23rd in kills (3.90) and 29th in service aces (0.61). She is the conference leader in blocking and is second in hitting percentage (.340).

Biessel is 31st in assists per set (10.20) and third in the GLIAC. She has totaled 35 or more assists in each of the last six matches, including four straight 40+ efforts Sept. 18-25.