SPLIT WEEKEND
The Wayne State University volleyball team (5-6, 4-3 GLIAC) will be split between the road and home this weekend, as the Warriors travel to Hillsdale (10-2, 7-1) on Friday before hosting Findlay (4-8, 2-6) on Saturday at the Matthaei.

KIDS DAY Saturday, Oct. 1 vs. Findlay FREE ADMISSION to kids wearing their group/team uniform or a WSU volleyball camp t-shirt - meet and greet with the Warriors after the match. TICKETS General admission: $3.00 Chairback seating:  $5.00 FREE ADMISSION to kids under 6 and to WSU students with OneCard

WSU went 1-2 last weekend against a trio of GLIAC North Division foes.  Wayne State defeated No. 20 Grand Valley State in five sets on Friday before falling in two closely contested matches with Saginaw Valley State and No. 23 Ferris State.

The Chargers, ranked 11th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II national poll, went 2-1 on a weekend stretch similar to that of the Warriors, suffering their first conference loss of the year to the Bulldogs.  The Oilers snapped a five-match losing skid with a 3-0 win Sunday at SVSU.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is in his fourth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 56-39.  In his six-year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 90-82.

Chris Gravel, the 2010 AVCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year, has a career record of 319-177 in his 16th season with Hillsdale.  Wick Colchagoff is in his 14th season at Findlay with a record of 286-176.  In his 18-year career, including four seasons at Nebraska Wesleyan, Colchagoff is 366-235.


SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State will be looking to snap a four-match losing streak against Hillsdale, as the Chargers have swept the Warriors each of the last two seasons.  Wayne State's last win over Hillsdale was in the 2008 GLIAC Tournament, which was WSU's third straight win against HC.

The Warriors have won six in a row against the Oilers, although three of the last four meetings have lasted five sets.


SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The top blocking team in the conference, Hillsdale is led by senior Clara Leutheuser who is second in the nation in blocks per set (1.54) and fifth in hitting percentage (.450).  Other weapons in the Chargers lineup include junior Lauren Grover (.356) and senior Ashlee Crowder (3.39 K/S).

Jessica VonIns, Findlay's senior setter, ranks eighth in the GLIAC in assists per set (7.59) and sixth in hitting percentage (.323).  She leads an Oilers squad, however, which is in the middle of the pack in the conference in hitting and blocking.


WARRIOR NOTEBOOK
Friday's meeting with Hillsdale will be Wayne State's third match against a ranked opponent in its last four.

Junior libero Lindsey Graciak continues to lead the conference in digs per set (4.85) and now ranks in the top 50 nationally.  She has averaged 3.39 digs per set for her career, eighth-best in school history.

Cydney Biessel has exceeded 30 assists in all 11 matches this season, and has gone over 40 in five matches including two last weekend.  The junior setter is averaging 10 assists per set, fourth in the GLIAC and 47th in Division II.

Sophomore outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz had a double-double in all three matches last weekend, while Biessel and Madie Kent did so against GVSU and SVSU.  Bulkiewicz totaled 45 kills and 37 digs in the three matches, as she ranks fifth in the conference in kills (3.61) while also averaging 2.59 digs.

Wayne State's blocking leader last weekend was sophomore Jen Finkbeiner, who totaled 11 block assists.  She ranks third on the team behind Bulkiewicz and Nicole Arends (36) in total blocks (30).


LOOKING AHEAD
Wayne State has a non-conference match against Lewis next Wednesday at Mishawaka (Ind.) High School before resuming GLIAC play at the Matthaei next weekend against Northwood and Lake Superior State.  The following weekend, Wayne State will participate in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover in Aurora, Ill.