Volleyball | 10/9/2014 1:00:00 PM

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (4-9, 2-7 GLIAC) will start a five-match road trip beginning this weekend with matches at Lake Erie (2-13, 0-9 GLIAC) and Ashland (4-9, 4-5 GLIAC). The Warriors will break from league action next weekend for the Seventh Annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover. Their opponents for those three matches on Oct. 17-18 will be announced soon.

SCOUTING THE STORM
Lake Erie enters the weekend searching for its first league win with an 0-9 mark in the GLIAC and a 2-13 overall record. Both of the Storm's win cam in early September. Andy Risenberg is in his second season with the program. Sara Aultz leads the team with 122 kills (2.35/set) while Asya Hobbs is second with 117 kills (2.17/set). Samantha Knepley has dished out 280 assists  (6.83/set) and Sidney Fletcher leads the team with 122 digs (2.30/set). As a team, LEC is hitting .110 and opponents are hitting .220.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Ashland enters this weekend with a 4-9 record and 4-5 mark in league contests. The Eagles began the season 0-6 but have since gone 4-3. Cass Dixon is in her fourth season with the Eagles. Alli Cudworth is pacing the offense with 137 kills (3.19/set) and Casey Clark is second with 103 kills (2.40/set). Katie Siefert leads the team with 234 assists (7.09/set). Clark leads the defense with 134 digs (3.12/set). Ashland is hitting .126 opposed to its opponents, .182.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU has never lost to Lake Erie in eight contests in a series that began in 2010. The Warriors also lead the all-time series with Ashland, 29-25, in a series that began in 1985. WSU dominated the matchups early, winning 22 of the first  26 meetings. However, the Eagles have since won 21 of the last 28 meetings.

LAST TIME OUT
WSU fell in straight sets on Saturday afternoon against Findlay (11-3, 8-1 GLIAC). The Oilers  won in three by scores of 25-16, 25-20 and 25-14. Grace Frazee led the offense with nine kills while hitting .467 and Kielty posted 14 digs. 

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
The Warriors will head to Aurora, Ill. for three matches against GLVC members at the Seventh Annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover at the Great Lakes Center.