Volleyball | 10/16/2014 9:00:00 AM

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (5-10, 3-8 GLIAC) will break from conference play to compete in the Seventh Annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover in Aurora, Ill. this weekend. The Warriors will play three matches in two days. WSU will play Saint Joseph's (4-13, 2-9 GLVC) on Friday at 11:30 AM and William Jewell (2-15, 1-10 GLVC) at 5:30 PM before concluding the event against Maryville (10-8, 5-6 GLVC) on Saturday at 1 PM.

SCOUTING THE FIELD
Saint Joseph's enters the weekend 4-13 overall and 2-9 in the GLVC. Brittany Cherwinka is in her first season at the helm of SJC and was formerly an assistant coach at Wisconsin River Falls for two years. Anna Sacco leads the team with 156 kills (2.60/set) while Kate Wagenaar is a close second with 154 kills (2.66/set). Megan Sturm is the team's main passer with 343 assists (5.72/set). The Cardinals of William Jewell enter the tournament with a 2-15 overall mark and a 1-10 league record. Carolyn Raynes is also in her first season with the program and she arrived at WJC after two years at Tarleton State as an assistant coach. Christina Pratt leads the team with 116 kills (1.97/set) while Amy Lindhorst leads the roster with 280 assists (5.60/set). Maryville is 10-8 overall and 5-6 in league play. The Saints' head coach Chris Phillips is in her third season with the program. Maryville has four players with 200 or more kills led by Mikaela Lahm with 262 (2.27/set).

SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State leads the all-time series with Saint Joseph's 7-1. The Pumas only win came in 2002 at the Wheeling Jesuit Tournament. All eight contests have been neutral site contests and the two teams last met in the Crossover in 2009. The Warriors have never played William Jewell or Maryville. WSU is 9-10 all-time in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover with each year's results listed below:
2013: vs. Indianapolis (L, 0-3), vs. Rockhurst (L, 0-3), vs. Bellarmine (L, 1-3)
2012: vs. Missouri-St. Louis (L, 1-3), vs.Southern Indiana (W, 3-1), vs.#9 Indianapolis (L,0-3)
2011: vs. Southern Indiana (W, 3-2), vs. Missouri-St. Louis (W, 3-2), vs. Wisconsin-Parkside (W,3-1)
2010: vs. #11 Lewis (L, 0-3), vs. Southern Indiana (L, 1-3), vs. Missouri S&T (L, 2-3)
2009: vs. Northern Kentucky (W, 3-2), vs. Drury (W, 3-1), vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) (W, 3-1) 
2008: vs. #17 Lewis (W, 3-2), vs. Rockhurst (L, 0-3), vs. Drury (W, 3-0)

LAST TIME OUT
WSU fell in straight sets at Ashland (5-10, 5-6) on Oct. 11. The Eagles won the sets by scores of 25-22, 25-20, 25-23. Hannah Moore led the Warriors in kills with nine. Brittany Guldan posted 23 assists. Madison Kielty collected 11 digs. The Warriors hit just .131 compared to AU's .213.

NEW LEADER
A familiar name in the GLIAC, Tim Koth came to WSU after 10 highly productive seasons at Northwood, which included 175 victories, five NCAA Tournament appearances and a GLIAC Tournament title in 2012. Koth will look to return the Warriors to the GLIAC Tournament after being absent in 2013 for the first time since 2006, and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994. He carries a career record of 285-267 in his 19 years of coaching. He is assisted by Michael Lozier and Dale Hartzell.

2014 CAPTAINS
Coach Koth announced his team captains for the 2014 season on July 28th. Senior Carlee Hunt (Waterford, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern), junior Madison Reeves (Indianapolis, Ind. / Avon), junior Kelsey Bonewits (Griffith, Ind.) and sophomore Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) will serve as the team's leaders this season.

"We believe these four ladies each bring their own different qualities as leaders for our team," said Koth. "In naming Carlee, Kelsey, Madison, and Mikayla – we have a lot of faith that we will have good leadership both on the floor, in the locker room and out in the community – and that they will represent Wayne State Volleyball in the manner in which we expect. We are looking forward to getting started in a few weeks."

Hunt was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team and served as a team captain in 2013. She played in 29 matches, started 21 times and appeared in 104 sets. Hunt was second on the team with 277 digs (2.66/set). Reeves, who was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team last season, also served as a team captain. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-District nominee, started all 26 matches played and led the team with 909 assists (9.09/set). Bonewits was also named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team and played in 26 matches in 2013, starting 24 times. She was fourth on the team with 119 kills (1.37/set) and led team with 80 total blocks (0.92/set), including 11 solo blocks. Shell played in 23 matches and made 10 starts. She appeared in 66 sets and totaled 74 kills (1.12/set).

IN THE POLLS
The GLIAC announced its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Aug. 14 with the Warriors and first-year head coach Tim Koth predicted to finish fifth in the North Division. Grand Valley State was selected to win the North with 55 points and seven first-place votes with Ferris State picking up the eighth and final first-place vote. The coaches tabbed Ashland as the preseason favorite to win the South Division with 46 points and six first-place votes. Hillsdale snagged the other two first-place votes.

UP NEXT
Following the Crossover, WSU will return to Detroit for its final two home matches of the season against Northwood on Friday and Lake Superior State on Saturday. The three Warrior seniors will be recognized prior to the match on Saturday.