SEASON OPENER
The Wayne State University volleyball program will begin its 37th season this weekend as the Warriors travel to the University of Missouri-St. Louis for the Tritons Classic.

Wayne State will meet UMSL and North Alabama on Friday, and Gannon and Lindenwood on Saturday.  Three of WSU's four opponents this weekend qualified for the NCAA Tournament a year ago.

The Warriors have fared well in recent opening weekends, posting a .500 record or better each of the last four years.  WSU went 2-2 last season at Indianapolis, won all four matches in the 2009 WSU Invitational, posted a 3-1 record at the CSU Monterey Bay Otter Classic in 2008, and won two of four matches at Francis Marion in 2007.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is entering his fourth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 51-33. In his five-plus year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 85-76.

UMSL first-year head coach Ryan Young served as assistant coach in 2010.  Stephanie Radecki owns a 180-67 record in seven seasons at UNA and a 191-86 career mark including one season at Saint Leo.

Matt Darling is entering his fifth year at Gannon with a career record of 61-54.  Ron Young, the 2010 AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, is 285-100 in nine seasons at Lindenwood.


SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State has won four straight meetings and six of the last seven against Missouri-St. Louis.  The teams last played each other at the 2009 University of Findlay TownePlace Suites Classic.

North Alabama and WSU have not met since the 2003 Grand Valley State Tournament.  WSU has won just one of the three all-time matches against UNA.

Gannon, a former member of the GLIAC, has not played Wayne State since the 2008 Findlay Classic.  The Warriors have won seven of the last 10 matches.

This weekend will be the first meeting between Wayne State and Lindenwood.


SCOUTING MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
The host Tritons are coming off their third straight 20-win season and their first berth in the NCAA Regionals in 15 years.  UMSL has nine returning letterwinners including three seniors who earned All-GLVC honors last year.  Middle hitter Weslie Gaff led UMSL with 281 kills, 83 blocks and a .346 hitting percentage.


SCOUTING NORTH ALABAMA
North Alabama went 21-10 and reached the championship match of the Gulf South Conference Tournament a year ago, as well as the first round of the NCAA South Regional.  Eight letterwinners including five starters are back this season, led by senior libero Lauren Greenhill who averaged 4.71 digs per set and earned All-GSC and All-Region honors.


SCOUTING GANNON
The Lady Knights won 20 matches and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season in 2010.  Eight returning letterwinners return this season, one of whom is two-time All-Region selection Kara Cullen, who ranked third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in hitting percentage (.324).  Juniors Lauren Sazama and Morgan Reineke have garnered All-PSAC honors every season of their careers.


SCOUTING LINDENWOOD
In the process of moving to the NCAA Division II level from NAIA, Lindenwood has 11 returners who will aid in making the transition.  The Lions finished 2010 with a 35-14 record and won the HAAC Tournament title for the fourth time in five years.  Senior outside hitter Ellen Fandry was an Honorable Mention All-American in 2010, leading Lindenwood with 538 kills which ranked 21st in the nation.


SEASON PREVIEW
In the nine years prior to head coach Phil Nickel's arrival at Wayne State, the volleyball program enjoyed just one overall winning season.  Over the last three years, Nickel's teams have not only been over the .500 mark, but have played in the postseason.

From the very beginning we've had high expectations,” said Nickel.

With eight returning letterwinners in 2011, Nickel certainly is hopeful that the upward trend continues.

The Warriors went 15-12 last year including a 13-6 conference record, WSU's highest GLIAC win total since 1998.  The team also earned home-court advantage for the first round of the GLIAC Tournament for the second time in three seasons.

As Nickel does not have a single senior on his 2011 roster, leadership and experience will primarily come from the junior class, particularly captains Katarzyna Sak and Cydney Biessel.

“They've been with me the whole time here, and it's really fun to see them grow,” said Nickel.  “They've really taken a big step forward this year in their leadership, knowing what to expect and being able to convey that to the rest of the team.”

The fourth All-American in the 37-year history of Wayne State volleyball, Sak totaled 401 kills and had the sixth-highest hitting percentage (.333) in program history.  She became the first WSU player since 1992 to finish with over 400 kills and a hitting percentage above .330.

A middle blocker by trade, Sak is a threat everywhere on the court, as she totaled 59 service aces, 115 blocks and 55 digs last season.

Biessel has emerged as one of the top setters in the conference, as she was named to the All-GLIAC Second Team last season.  She amassed 993 assists, while her 10.34 assists per set was the fourth-highest mark in school history.  Biessel had five double-doubles, as she contributed to both the digging (185) and blocking (39) efforts.

Other three-year veterans on the team are outside hitter Madie Kent and defensive specialist Lindsey Graciak.

Kent matched Biessel's total of five double-doubles and finished second on the team with 184 kills.  Graciak averaged 4.27 digs per set – tied for fourth-best in program history – in her first year as the starting libero in 2010.

“Both of them have done very well, but we expect even bigger and better things from both Madie and Lindsey this year,” said Nickel.  “Lindsey has had a great preseason, and I'm expecting her to really take a step forward as one of the best liberos in the conference.  We're counting on Madie to step up and take on some of the offensive load for this team.”

Also among those returning are four sophomores who gained valuable experience as rookies in 2010.  Middle blocker Nicole Arends played in 25 matches, had the second-highest hitting percentage on the team (.284) and collected 67 blocks.

“Nicole has worked very hard.  “She's a great kid and plays with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” said Nickel.  “We're expecting her to step up and take on a bigger role this year.”

Before being slowed by an injury late in the season, outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz had double-digit kill totals in six matches on her way to 135 kills for the year.

Backup setter Jessica DeLeeuw and middle blocker Jen Finkbeiner saw limited playing time but will be counted on to contribute more in their sophomore campaigns.  Nickel has liked what he has seen from all of his sophomores in the spring and during camp.

“They're all going to contribute and will be part of the success of this team,” said Nickel.

Six newcomers, including four who signed National Letters of Intent, will round out the 2011 roster, and Nickel is excited by the athleticism and talent of his recruiting class.

Outside hitter Morgan Dickerson played three years at Vista Murrieta in California, helping the team to a league title in 2010.  A graduate of Walled Lake Northern, defensive specialist Carlee Hunt was an all-region, all-area and all-conference player.

Ontario native Candice Ottey will boost the outside hitter position, as the Ajax graduate led the Toronto Element club team to a provincial championship in 2009-10.  Middle blocker Paige Stevenson was Harrison High School's top blocker in 2009 and 2010, guiding the Raiders to their fourth straight sectional title as a senior.

Defensive specialist Jamie Goryca and middle blocker Julie Sanders will provide added depth to the 14-player roster.

The Warriors will begin the 2011 season Sept. 2-3, with four matches at the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons Classic.  Of WSU's 18 scheduled opponents, seven qualified for the 2010 NCAA Tournament including three of its four opponents – UMSL, North Alabama and Gannon – on the opening weekend.

“We wanted to challenge ourselves right from the beginning,” said Nickel.

The Warriors begin conference play on the road Sept. 9 at Ashland, and will host their first GLIAC match Sept. 17 against Ohio Dominican. The schedule also includes three Sunday matches – Sept. 18 against Tiffin, Sept. 25 at Ferris State, and Oct. 30 against Lake Erie.

A non-conference match versus Lewis is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 5 at Mishawaka (Ind.) High School.

The third annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover will be held Oct. 14-15, at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Ill., with a schedule to be determined. Following the Crossover, three of WSU's eight remaining matches will be played at the Matthaei, leading into the 2011 GLIAC Tournament beginning Thursday, Nov. 10.

While Nickel is pleased with the progression of the WSU volleyball program under his watch, he is ready to get it over the hump and make a significant run in the postseason.

“We've done well, but we're ready to take the next step and hopefully this year we can achieve that.”