ROAD TRIP CONTINUES
The Wayne State University volleyball team (12-3, 7-0 GLIAC), coming off two wins in the Upper Peninsula last week, will be on the road again this weekend facing Hillsdale College (6-9, 5-2 GLIAC) on Friday and Northwood University (12-3, 7-0 GLIAC) on Saturday.

Wayne State's conference record remained unblemished following victories over Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.  Hillsdale continues to recover from a 1-7 start, winning five of its last six matches including victories at Malone and Walsh last weekend.  Northwood enters its match Friday against Findlay with the same records as Wayne State, as the Timberwolves and Warriors lead the North and South Divisions, respectively.


AT THE HELM
Phil Nickel is in his fifth season as Wayne State's head volleyball coach and has a record of 77-50.  In his seven-year career, which includes two seasons at Thomas More College, Nickel is 111-93.

Chris Gravel has a career 346-187 record in 16 seasons as the head coach at Hillsdale.

In his ninth season at Northwood, head coach Tim Koth has a 140-109 record.  Over his 17-year career, which includes eight years at Quincy, Koth is 246-231.


IN THE POLLS
Wayne State was picked to finish in fifth place by the conference head coaches in the 2012 GLIAC preseason poll, while Hillsdale and Northwood were slotted second and seventh, respectively.  The Warriors and Timberwolves also received votes in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II national poll.


SERIES HISTORY
The Warriors are looking to snap a six-match losing streak against the Chargers dating back to 2009.  Wayne State went 3-0 against Hillsdale in 2008, including a four-set win in the 2008 GLIAC Tournament.

Wayne State is 2-4 against Northwood over the last four seasons.


SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Northwood (.254) and Hillsdale (.229) enter this weekend ranked second and third, respectively, in the conference in team hitting percentage.  Hillsdale is also second in blocking (2.73 per set), trailing only NCAA Division II leading Wayne State (3.13).

After losing seven of their first eight matches in non-conference play, the Chargers are 5-2 against GLIAC opponents.  Senior middle hitter Lauren Grover, a Second Team All-GLIAC selection a year ago, leads the conference in blocking (1.44 per set) and ranks eighth in hitting percentage (.299).

Like the Warriors, the Timberwolves have started GLIAC action with seven straight victories and enter the weekend leading the North Division.  Ukraine natives Juliia Pakhomenko and Zina Liubymova, who are tied for the conference lead in service aces (0.61 per set), also rank second (3.83) and fourth (3.31), respectively, in kills.  Pakhomenko is also hitting .319 this season, sixth-highest in the GLIAC.


WARRIOR NOTEBOOK
Wayne State comes into this week leading all NCAA Division II teams in blocking (3.13 per set).  Contributing to that effort are freshmen Essence Jackson-Jones, who is second in the GLIAC and 10th in Division II (1.38), and Kelsey Bonewits, who ranks third in the conference and 14th nationally (1.35).

Junior outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz, who is seventh in the GLIAC in blocking (0.91), also ranks fifth in kills per set (3.26).

Candice Ottey was selected GLIAC South Division Player of the Week on Monday after totaling 20 kills in WSU's two wins last week, including a team-high 12 with a .333 hitting percentage Friday at Northern Michigan.  The sophomore outside hitter had eight kills, four digs and three solo blocks Saturday at Michigan Tech.

Senior libero Lindsey Graciak, who is currently sixth all-time at Wayne State in career digs (1,241), is rapidly approaching the next two former WSU players on the list.  Graciak needs seven digs to surpass Sandi Lane (1990-92) and 23 to eclipse Megan Smolen (2002-05).


UPCOMING MATCHES
This week is the second of three straight road weekends for the Warriors, who will play in the annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover next weekend in Aurora, Ill.  Wayne State returns to the Matthaei for Homecoming, hosting Grand Valley State (Oct. 19) and Ferris State (Oct. 20).