MAX THE MATTHAEI
The Wayne State University volleyball team (9-10, 5-6 GLIAC) returns to conference action Tuesday night as the Warriors host the eighth-ranked Hillsdale College Chargers (17-2, 11-1 GLIAC) at the Matthaei.

Wayne State and Hillsdale were among the seven teams to post a perfect 3-0 record at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover last weekend in Aurora, Ill.  The Warriors earned five-set wins over Southern Indiana and Missouri-St. Louis, and a 3-1 victory against Wisconsin-Parkside.  The Chargers blanked UWP and USI, as well as No. 22 Indianapolis.

Tuesday will be “Max the Matthaei” Night and fans can purchase green t-shirts for $2.00 to “green out” the gym.  Also, free pizza will be available to students with a OneCard at 6:30 p.m. prior to the match.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is in his fourth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 60-43.  In his six-year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 94-86.

Chris Gravel, the 2010 AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, has a career record of 326-177 in his 16th season with Hillsdale.


SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State will be looking to snap a five-match losing streak against Hillsdale, as the Chargers swept the Warriors in 2009 and 2010, and won a three-set result in Hillsdale on Sept. 30.  Wayne State's last win over Hillsdale was in the 2008 GLIAC Tournament, which was WSU's third straight victory against HC.


SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Chargers have won eight straight matches, seven of which were 3-0 results.  Hillsdale's only conference blemish was a 3-0 loss at then-23rd ranked Ferris State on Sept. 24.

The top blocking team in Division II entering this week, Hillsdale is led by senior Clara Leutheuser who is second in the nation in blocks per set (1.59) and 13th in hitting percentage (.390).  Other weapons in the Chargers lineup include junior Lauren Grover (.386) and senior Ashlee Crowder (3.54 K/S).


WARRIOR NOTEBOOK
Wayne State, along with Hillsdale and Findlay, were the only teams from the GLIAC to finish with a 3-0 record at the Crossover.  However, the GLVC won 29 of the 48 matches to claim the tournament title for the second straight season.

WSU is 8-4 all-time at the Crossover and went undefeated for the second time in three years.

Kristen Bulkiewicz and Lindsey Graciak were both named to the Crossover All-Tournament Team.  Bulkiewicz led WSU with 63 kills (4.50 per set) including a career-best 24 against UWP, and hit .325 for the week with eight aces, 26 digs and seven blocks.  Graciak averaged 5.93 digs and had a career-high 41 versus USI.

Cydney Biessel averaged 10.21 assists per set at the Crossover, and totaled a season-high 56 on Friday against UMSL.  With 2,732 career assists, Biessel surpassed Rebecca Hague (2,683; 2000-03) and Emily Peterson (2,707; 1990-91) for third place all-time at Wayne State.

Madie Kent totaled 51 kills and nine aces in the three matches, and Nicole Arends led the team with 17 blocks. 

As a team, the Warriors hit .305 in their win over Wisconsin-Parkside, their best percentage since Sept. 11 at Lake Erie (.532).


LOOKING AHEAD
Wayne State will travel to Ohio Dominican on Friday and Tiffin next Tuesday before returning home Oct. 29-30 to face Ashland and Lake Erie in WSU's final home matches of the 2011 regular season.