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DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (2-2, 0-0 GLIAC) will play the first two matches of of a five-match homestand this weekend. The Warriors will host #18 Grand Valley State (2-2, 0-0 GLIAC) on Friday night and #15 Ferris State (2-2, 0-0 GLIAC) on Saturday afternoon. The matches will be played in Gym 109 inside the Matthaei due to the new court construction on Matthaei's main floor.

Also caused by the court renovation, there will be no Warrior All-Access Internet streaming for any of the September matches.
 

Setting the Stage	Wayne State Volleyball vs. #18 Grand Valley State & #15 Ferris State
Dates	Friday, Sept. 12 - Saturday Sept. 13
Time	vs. Grand Valley State (7 PM)  |  vs. Ferris State (2 PM)
Location	Detroit, Mich. | Matthaei Gym 109
Internet	Twitter: @WayneStWarriors | Live Stats
Opponent Info	Grand Valley State | Ferris State

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.

In the latest AVCA DII Coaches Poll (9/8/14) the Warriors are receiving 12 votes, which ranks them 37th in the country.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
All five newcomers made their debut during WSU Volleyball's opening weekend and made a significant impact. 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 has played in all 18 sets while making three starts and finished the opening tournament with 40 kills (2.22/set) and 43 digs (2.39/set). Grace Frazee also has appeared in all 18 sets thus far, starting three matches. She has collected 30 kills (1.67/set). Michelle Asiedu has brought her athleticism to the roster and has played in 10 matches totaling 25 kills (2.50/set). Madison Kielty leads the team with 63 digs (3.72/set), while Brittany Guldan saw action in six sets  and dished out 36 assists (6.00/set).

OPENING WEEKEND
The Warriors have fared well in recent opening weekends, posting a .500 record or better in seven of the last eight years following its split of the four matches in Pennsylvania. Last season, the Warriors went 3-1 at the Laker Classic including a win over #6 Southwest Minnesota State. In 2012, the Warriors went 2-2 at the NSU Sharks Classic. WSU went 1-3 in 2011 at Missouri-St. Louis, 2-2 at Indianapolis in 2010, won all four matches in the 2009 WSU Invitational, posted a 3-1 record at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Classic in 2008, and won two of four matches at Francis Marion in 2007.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS
Grand Valley State (2-2) enter GLIAC play after splitting its four matches at the Oredigger Classic in Golden, Colo. last weekend. The Lakers topped Minnesota State Moorehead and Dominican (Calif.) and fell to Wayne State (Neb.) and Augustana (S.D.). GVSU is led by Deanne Scanlon who is beginning her 20th season and just recently won her 500th match with the Lakers. GVSU is coming off a trip to the Midwest Region championship match after capturing both the GLIAC regular season and tournament titles in 2013. The Lakers, 31-4 overall last season, return five starters (and the starting libero) and a dozen letterwinners off last year's squad.

Senior outside hitter Abby Aiken leads the team with 53 kills (3.53/set) in 2014 returns after being named the 2013 GLIAC Player of the Year. Also a Daktronics Second Team All-American, Aiken totaled 427 kills, 413 digs, and 67 total blocks last season. Second-year setter Kaitlyn Wolters - an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American - enters her senior season after dishing out 1,251 assists in 2013 and adding 374 digs, 123 kills, and 60 blocks. The GLIAC leader in all four blocking categories - junior Kaleigh Lound - is back. A Third Team AVCA All-American, Lound notched 233 kills, hit .316 offensively, and recorded 152 total blocks (1.20 per set), 27 of the solo variety.

Junior Betsy Ronda - the 2012 GLIAC Freshman of the Year - nabbed 315 digs, 307 kills, and 45 aces last season. First Team Daktronics All-Midwest Region libero Christina Canepa picked up 544 digs in 2013 and was aced just 22 times in 35 matches. Also returning are senior middle blocker Ally Simmons (178 kills, 80 blocks, 24 aces) and sophomore defensive specialist Nicayla Joyce (301 digs, 29 aces); both letterwinners played in every match last season.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Ferris State also split its four matches to open the season at the Tampa Invitational.The Bulldogs defeated Tusculum and #24 Indianapolis while falling to Tampa and Central Missouri. GLIAC North Player of the Week Megan Vander Meer leads the team with 43 kills (3.07/set).

FSU enters the 2014 campaign with high hopes again after winning the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championship to advance to the Elite Eight a year ago under veteran head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. Five starters and 10 letterwinners return for the Bulldogs, including a pair of All-GLIAC performers in talented hitters Courtney Rehm and Alexis Huntey.

Sophomore Stephanie Sikorski returns at the setter position after an impressive freshman campaign. Ferris State, which placed tied for second in the GLIAC North a year ago before its postseason run, will be seeking its 19th NCAA Tournament appearance this year. A talented incoming freshman class will help offset the loss of a pair of seniors from last year, which includes the GLIAC Libero of the Year in Brandie Merren.

SERIES HISTORY
WSU trails the all-time series with GVSU 34-15. The Lakers have taken 16 of the last 18 meetings. WSU last victory in the series came in Allendale in 2011. Ferris State also has a large advantage in the all-time series, leading WSU 39-14. The Bulldogs have won 17 of the last 19 meetings. Wayne State's last two wins were on Nov. 14, 2012 in the GLIAC Tournament and on Sept. 25, 2010.

LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors won both of their matches on Saturday at the Tony Banner Memorial Tournament hosted by Clarion University. WSU bested Concord in the morning in five sets after trailing 2-0 and also beat Edinboro in five sets. Hannah Moore and Emily Norscia were named to the All-Tournament Team for their performance. Norscia finished the four matches with 31 kills (2.07/set). Moore tallied 40 kills (2.22/set) and 43 digs (2.39/set).

UP NEXT
The Warriors will continue their homestand next weekend by hosting Ohio Dominican on Friday night and Tiffin on Saturday afternoon.