GLIAC OPENER
The Wayne State University volleyball team will begin its conference schedule this weekend with a pair of GLIAC South Division road matches.  The Warriors will face Ashland on Friday night and Lake Erie on Sunday afternoon.

In its opening weekend at the UMSL Tritons Classic, the Warriors went 1-3 including a win over Gannon and two five-set losses.  Ashland went 2-2 at the University of Indianapolis Tournament, while Lake Erie lost its opener, 3-0, at Mount Vernon Nazarene.  The Storm will host Findlay and Hillsdale prior to WSU's arrival in Painesville.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is in his fourth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 52-36.  In his five-plus year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 86-79.

Ashland's Cass Dixon and Lake Erie's Brian Goughlin are in their  first seasons at their respective schools.  Dixon previously spent five years (1999-2004) as the head coach at Walsh, posting a 16-43 record and three NAIA regional championships.


SERIES HISTORY
Ashland and Wayne State split last year's two meetings, with the road team winning each time.  The Warriors are 3-3 against the Eagles since 2008, when WSU snapped an 11-match skid against Ashland dating back to 2003.

The Warriors shut out the Storm twice in 2010, the first matches between the teams as Lake Erie was a newcomer to the GLIAC.


SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Much like the Warriors, the Eagles are a young team as eight of their 12 players are sophomores or freshmen.  Ashland does have one senior – outside hitter Anesia Benton – who had 26 kills and eight blocks last weekend at Indy.  Junior outside hitter Brittany Snider, last year's team leader in kills, aces and digs, totaled a team-best 30 kills in four matches.

The Storm is under new leadership as Coughlin takes over after serving as an assistant coach at Cleveland State.  Lake Erie's kill leaders in 2010 were Jamie Hoppe and Molly Richardson, who combined for nearly 300 kills as freshmen.


WARRIOR NOTEBOOK
Sophomore Kristen Bulkiewicz and junior Madie Kent were WSU's co-leaders with 45 kills apiece last weekend at the UMSL Tritons Classic.  Bulkiewicz, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, totaled 39 digs and 11 blocks, while Kent contributed 49 digs.  Kent also reached the 20-kill mark for the first time in her career Saturday against Lindenwood.

Junior libero Lindsey Graciak set a career-high with 33 digs Friday against North Alabama, and eclipsed that number with 34 the following day against Lindenwood.  She is averaging 3.23 digs per set for her career, 10th-best in program history.

Junior setter Cydney Biessel, who totaled 151 assists last weekend, needs 89 to pass Laura Hayes (1986-87) for fifth-most all-time.  Biessel has 2,159 career assists.


LOOKING AHEAD
For its 2011 home opener, Wayne State will host Ohio Dominican next Saturday, Sept. 17, as part of WSU's Homecoming festivities.  The Warriors will face Tiffin at the Matthaei the following afternoon.

Four straight road matches will follow, including three against GLIAC North Division foes – Grand Valley State, Saginaw Valley State, and Ferris State – on Sept. 23-25.