Volleyball 9/3/2014 8:00:00 AM Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

WSU Volleyball Begins Season in Pennsylvania

Tim Koth looks to get off on the right foot in his first season at the helm.

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DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program will open its season on Thursday at the 2014 Tony Banner Memorial Tournament being hosted by Clarion University in Pennsylvania. First-year head coach Tim Koth and his roster have prepared for the past two weeks and begin the season with four non-conference opponents.

The Warriors will open with host Clarion on Thursday at 7 PM. On Friday, WSU will meet Gannon at 3 PM before concluding the event with two matches on Saturday against Concord at 9 AM and Edinboro at 3 PM.

Setting the Stage	Wayne State Volleyball at Tony Banner Memorial Tournament
Dates	Thursday, Sept. 4 - Saturday Sept. 6
Time	vs. Clarion (7 PM) \| vs. Gannon (3 PM) \| vs. Concord (9 AM) \| vs. Edinboro (3 PM)
Location	Clarion, Pa.. (Tippin Gym)
Internet	Twitter: @WayneStWarriors
Opponent Info	Clarion \| Gannon \| Concord \| Edinboro

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 283-265 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).

PRESEASON POLL
The GLIAC announced its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Aug. 14 and the Warriors and first-year head coach Tim Koth were 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.

OPENING WEEKEND
The Warriors have fared well in recent opening weekends, posting a .500 record or better in six of the last seven years. 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 FIELD
The field features three PSAC opponents with Gannon and Clarion being the most formidable. The Lady Knights went 20-14 last season and upset top-seeded Clarion in the PSAC Tournament. Gannon is led by Matt Darling who is in his eighth season leading GU's volleyball program and carries a 130-85 record. Gannon returns 2013 PSAC West Freshman of the Year Hannah Kren, who finished her rookie season with 3.50 kills per set

Defending PSAC West Champion Clarion returns 2013 PSAC West Athlete of the Year setter Laura Subject, who led the league with 11.11 assists per set after she helped the Golden Eagles to a 32-5 overall record. Clarion appeared in its fifth straight NCAA Tournament. Head coach Jennifer Mills is also in her eighth season (117-66) with the program and was the 2009 & 2010 AVCA DII Atlantic Regional Coach of the Year.

Edinboro enters the 2014 season after posting an 18-18 overall ledger in 2013, tying for sixth in the PSAC West with a 9-13 mark in league play. The Fighting Scots missed the postseason for the second consecutive season after qualifying for five straight years from 2006-2011. Soboleski enters her tenth season as Edinboro's head coach with a 204-121 record. She had guided the Fighting Scots to five straight NCAA and PSAC playoff appearances from 2006-2011. She is now in her 19th year as a head coach and has 337 career victories after previously serving as head coach at both Gannon and Mercyhurst. The Fighting Scots return a number of key performers from last year, including All-PSAC West Second Team selection Megan Branchick. The junior paced Edinboro and ranked eighth in the PSAC with 375 kills on the season.

Concord is a member of the Mountain East Conference and was predicted to finish sixth in the coaches preseason poll. The Mountain Lions will look to improve on a solid 2013 season that saw Concord produce 16 victories, the most for the program since 2002, as well as winning its first round MEC Tournament match against Glenville State. Head coach Kate Southcott enters her sixth season (66-102) at Concord with a roster made up of five seniors, four sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and a seven-woman freshman class. Leading the Mountain Lions in 2014 will be returning All-MEC performers senior middle hitter Sarah Jones and senior outside hitter Brytni Willis.

SERIES HISTORY
The Green & Gold have historically played well with the four opponents it will meet this week. WSU leads the all-time series with Clarion 3-0 with the last meeting coming in 2004. The Warriors hold a 20-12 advantage over the former GLIAC member Gannon with their last meeting occurring in 2011. WSU and Edinboro are tied with one win each with the last matchup happening in 2006. WSU has won the only meeting with Concord, which was in 2007.

UP NEXT
The Warriors will play five straight matches inside the Matthaei Center beginning with No. 14 Grand Valley State on Sept. 12 at 7 PM.

2013 RECAP
WSU posted an 11-18 overall record last season including an 8-10 mark in league play. The Warriors opened the 2013 season earning three wins at the GVSU Laker Classic including a victory over No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State as WSU collected its first win over a ranked program in eight attempts. Wayne State's last previous triumph versus a Top 25 team was on Sept. 23, 2011, against #20 GVSU (3-2). In addition, the loss marked the first loss to an unranked opponent in three years for SMSU. However, an eight match losing streak in October would spoil the encouraging start.?WSU posted an 11-18 overall record last season including an 8-10 mark in league play. The Warriors opened the 2013 season earning three wins at the GVSU Laker Classic including a victory over No. 6 Southwest Minnesota State as WSU collected its first win over a ranked program in eight attempts. Wayne State's last previous triumph versus a Top 25 team was on Sept. 23, 2011, against #20 GVSU (3-2). In addition, the loss marked the first loss to an unranked opponent in three years for SMSU. However, an eight match losing streak in October would spoil the encouraging start.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

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

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