Volleyball Hosts Hillsdale, Findlay at Home This Weekend

WSU looks to improve upon its 4-7 overall record.

By: Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

The Warriors are set to begin their second to last home weekend on Friday.

Volleyball | 10/2/2014 12:30:00 PM

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (4-7, 2-5 GLIAC) will host a pair of GLIAC South programs this weekend as Hillsdale (6-5, 5-2 GLIAC) and Findlay (9-3, 6-1 GLIAC) visit the Matthaei. The teams are currently second and first in the South standings, respectively.

SCOUTING THE CHARGERS
Hillsdale is 6-5 this season including a 5-2 conference mark. The Chargers have lost two straight after winning five in a row. HC is in the middle of a four-match road trip.

Head coach Chris Gravel is in his 18th season at the helm and has collected over 300 wins for Hillsdale and is a four-time GLIAC Coach of the Year. Emily Wolfert leads the team with 92 kills (2.71/set) while Marissa Owen has collected 355 assists.

Last year, the Charger volleyball team missed out on the NCAA Division II tournament for just the second time in 11 years. That was all the motivation the coaches and players needed to gear up for the 2014 campaign.

Hillsdale lost just two starters to graduation from last year, and bring back a more mature and experienced team in the new season. The team is loaded with potent hitters, featuring juniors Emily Wolfert and Jenalle Beaman on the outside, senior Kat Vael and sophomore Kyra Rodi on the right side, and junior Haylee Booms and senior Lindsay Kostrzewa in the middle. Kostrzewa comes off her best season in 2013, when she led the GLIAC in average blocks per set.

Junior Marissa Owen will handle setting duties, while senior libero Bailey Lindner will anchor the tam's back row players. The Chargers' two freshmen both come in with a lot of familiarity with the program. Outside hitter Jessie Kopmeyer follows on the heels of her older sister Caitlin, a four-year starter for the team. Defensive specialist Brittany Jandasek is the niece of head coach Chris Gravel and associate coach Stephanie Gravel. Jandasek's father was an All-American setter for Ohio State University's men's volleyball team.

SCOUTING THE OILERS
Findlay is off to another strong start this season at 9-3 overall and 6-1 in the GLIAC. The Oilers are in the midst of a five-match road swing.

Head coach Wick Colchagoff is in his 17th season leading the Oiler volleyball program. He carries a career record of 340-212 during his tenure at Findlay and has won four GLIAC South Division titles. Hannah Tong leads the team with 149 kills (3.24/set) while Amanda Calhoun has handed out 417 assists (9.07/set).

The Oilers are coming off of a 20-12 season, their first 20-win year since 2006. They will look to build on their success last season as they return ten letter winners to their 2014 squad, which includes a good mixture of veterans and talented underclassmen.

Senior setter Amanda Calhoun returns to lead the team after racking up 1,087 assists in 2013 while sophomore Hannah Tong will look to continue her growth as she finished third on the team with 184 kills despite playing in only 24 matches. Junior middle blocker Julie Lyons (169) and junior right side Andrea Roach (131) also return after accumulating triple digit kills as well.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU leads the all-time series with Hillsdale 36-25. However, the Chargers have won the last eight meetings. Findlay leads the series with Wayne State 20-15 while the Oilers and Warriors have traded wins during the last four meetings.

LAST TIME OUT
After a disappointing loss at Malone on Friday night, WSU responded with a dominant 3-0 win at Walsh on Saturday afternoon. The sweep included a 25-10 thrashing in the opening set. Emily Norscia led WSU with nine kills while Brittany Guldan tallied 25 assists.

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.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
All five newcomers are making a significant impact in their first season with the program. As Coach Koth predicted prior to the season, all five have found time in the rotation while a few have made starts for the Green & Gold. Hannah Moore, last week's GLIAC North Player of the Week, has played in all 43 sets while making 10 starts. She is second on the team with 93 kills (2.16/set) and leads with 107 digs (2.49/set). Grace Frazee has appeared in 42 sets thus far, starting 10 matches. She has collected 74 kills (1.76/set). Michelle Asiedu has brought her athleticism to the roster and has played in nine matches totaling 51 kills (1.82/set). Madison Kielty is the team's libero and is second on the team with 103 digs (3.81/set), while Brittany Guldan has seen action in 23 sets and dished out 193 assists (8.39/set).

UP NEXT
The Warriors will be on the road for the next two weekends beginning with matches at Lake Erie and Ashland on Oct. 10-11 before the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover on Oct. 17-18.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Michelle Asiedu: MH; 5' 10"; Freshman

#4 Kelsey Bonewits: MB; 6' 1"; Junior

#2 Carlee Hunt: DS; 5' 9"; Senior

#10 Hannah Moore: OH; 5' 10"; Freshman

#15 Emily Norscia: OH; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#3 Madison Reeves: S; 5' 9"; Junior

#20 Mikayla Shell: MB; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#9 Madison Kielty: DS; 5' 8"; Freshman

#12 Grace Frazee: MB; 6' 1"; Freshman

#1 Brittany Guldan: S; 5' 9"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#7 Michelle Asiedu
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: MH

#4 Kelsey Bonewits
: 6' 1"; Junior
: MB

#2 Carlee Hunt
: 5' 9"; Senior
: DS

#10 Hannah Moore
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: OH

#15 Emily Norscia
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: OH

#3 Madison Reeves
: 5' 9"; Junior
: S

#20 Mikayla Shell
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: MB

#9 Madison Kielty
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS

#12 Grace Frazee
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: MB

#1 Brittany Guldan
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: S