FRIDAY PREVIEW
The Wayne State University volleyball team (9-11, 5-7 GLIAC) has just one match this weekend, facing Ohio Dominican University (11-9, 4-6 GLIAC) on Friday night in Columbus.

After finishing with a 3-0 record at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover last weekend, Wayne State resumed conference play with a four-set loss Tuesday against No. 8 Hillsdale.  Ohio Dominican has not played since posting a 1-2 record at the Crossover.

Friday will be the second meeting of the season between the Warriors and Panthers.  Wayne State shut out ODU in Detroit five weeks ago.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is in his fourth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 60-44.  In his six-year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 94-87.

ODU's Sandy Rowley has a 23-year career record of 455-395.


SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State and Ohio Dominican had not played each other prior to last season, ODU's first in the GLIAC.  The Warriors swept both meetings in straight sets in 2010.


SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Panthers, who begin a stretch of six straight home matches Friday, have already exceeded their 2010 totals for overall wins (8) and conference wins (3).  Since its 3-0 loss to Wayne State on Sept. 17, ODU is 5-5 with GLIAC victories over Findlay, Lake Erie and Michigan Tech.

Entering this week ranked fourth in the GLIAC in kills (12.46) and blocks (2.14) as a team, Ohio Dominican is guided by freshman Caitlin Kusan, the sixth-leading hitter in the conference (.334), and senior Rachel Billing, who ranks seventh in the GLIAC in kills per set (3.50).  The pair combined for 14 kills in ODU's last meeting with Wayne State.


WARRIOR NOTEBOOK
Kristen Bulkiewicz finished with a team-high 16 kills Tuesday against Hillsdale.  She has reached double-digits in kills in all but two matches this season.  Coming into this week averaging 3.71 kills per set, Bulkiewicz ranks fourth in the GLIAC and 53rd in Division II.

Lindsey Graciak, who had 16 digs against the Chargers, remains the conference leader in digs per set.  Entering the week averaging 4.86 per set, she ranks among the top 50 nationally as well.

Cydney Biessel moved in to third place all-time at WSU in career assists last weekend.  She has 2,762 assists through Tuesday, ranking behind Amy Horgan (4,097; 1997-2000) and Tracy Ganger (5,136; 1992-95).


LOOKING AHEAD
Wayne State will travel to Tiffin on Tuesday before returning home next weekend to face Ashland on Saturday and Lake Erie on Sunday in WSU's final home matches of the 2011 regular season.