Jenna Kray and the Warriors will aim to start season strong on Friday and Saturday.

Volleyball 8/25/2022 8:54:00 AM Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Volleyball to Open Season at UIndy Invitational

The Warriors will meet Montevallo and Findlay on Friday before playing Anderson and McKendree on Saturday.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team will return to the court this week with four matches at the UIndy Invitational. Competition begins on Friday at 1:30 PM against Montevallo before the Warriors meet former GLIAC foe Findlay at 6:00 PM. WSU will be back in action at 10:00 AM on Saturday morning against Anderson (S.C.) before finishing the event against McKendree at 2:00 PM.

COACH KOTH
The 2021 GLIAC Coach of the Year, Tim Koth needs five wins to tally 400 career wins as a women's head coach. The 2022 season will be his 28th in collegiate coaching and ninth at Wayne State.

"We definitely are looking forward to getting on the court to play some meaningful competition this weekend in Indianapolis," said Koth. "Our team will be tested by some very good competition. It's a great opportunity to start to see what this team has a chance to evolve into this fall."

RETURNING LEADERS
The roster will lean on 12 returners and much of of the starting lineup from last year. That group is highlighted by setter Kamryn Duffield, outside hitter Lauren VanderWal and middle blocker Halle Shell. Duffield was a First Team All-GLIAC selection in 2021 and ranks fourth all-time in assists with 3,726. She totaled 1,098 helpers last season, which is thw 10th most all-time in the school record books. Her 10.35 assists per set total for her career is third in program history.

VanderWal was also a First Team All-GLIAC honoree and also was named to the AVCA All-Midwest Regional Team. She totaled 238 kills and led WSU with 3.13 kills per set last season. Shell will continue to be a keu part of the defense efforts for the Green & Gold. She totaled 109 total blocks last season and was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection. Jenna Kray was also a 2021 First Team All-GLIAC honoree at middle blocker after she posted 228 kills and 61 total blocks. Other names to keep an eye on will be Maddy Benoit, Maddie Morrison and Alexa Withun.

NEWCOMERS
The roster welcomes three newcomers. Middle blocker Kayla Giroux should make an impact early at the net, while middle blocker Leigha Baldwin and defensive specialist Kendyl Andrews add talent and depth tot he roster.

GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
In front of the Green & Gold was Grand Valley State (68 points / four first-place votes) and Michigan Tech (66 points / three first-place votes). WSU (64 points / three first-place votes) was chosen ahead of Ferris State (62 points) and Davenport (55 points) to round out the top five. The rest of the poll includes Northern Michigan (48 points / one first-place vote), Saginaw Valley State (35 points), Parkside (26 points), Lake Superior State (17 points) and Purdue Northwest (nine points).

A HISTORIC 2021 SEASON
This past season, WSU played in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history, but for the first time since 1994. The Warriors totaled 20 victories, which is the most wins since 1998. The Green & Gold swept Saginaw Valley State in a GLIAC Quarterfinal contest on Nov. 17th, the first home playoff game since 2010 for WSU.

ABOUT MONTEVALLO
The Falcons of Montevallo are led by head coach Katie O'Brien who is in her 15th season with UM. She has led the Falcons to a winning record in 17 of her 22 seasons as a head coach and guided the Falcons to a 20-plus win season for the 11th time in their NCAA Division II era this past season. The Falcons have been regionally ranked at some point in each of the past four full seasons. Montevallo enters the 2022 season following back-to-back appearances in the Gulf South Conference Championship championship match. O'Brien's squad reached the league final in the spring 2021 season after posting a league-leading 10-0 record and a 5-0 mark in Group B play. The Falcons dropped the GSC final to Alabama-Huntsville to finish 12-1 on the year. Montevallo returned to the championship match in the fall of 2021 after finishing just sixth in the regular season with a 9-7 mark.

UM was picked third in their league's preseason poll. The roster is highlighted by 2021 Second Team All-GSC selection Allie Dishman, a sophomore middle blocker, who was named to the Preseason All-GSC First Team. The Carrollton, Ga., native led the Falcons with 35 service aces, finished second in blocks with 91 and was third in kills with 271 in 2021. In addition, Dishman was fourth in the GSC and 51st across NCAA Division II with a .341 hitting percentage. Additionally, incoming freshmen Maggie McColley and Brooklyn Hudson were recognized on the GSC Newcomer Watch List for the 2022 campaign.

ABOUT FINDLAY
Findlay, a former GLIAC member, was picked second in the North Division of the G-MAC Preseason Poll. Head coach Wick Colchagoff is entering his 25th season with the Oilers.  During his time at Findlay, Colchagoff has won seven GLIAC South Division titles and has coached 27 first team all-conference players and 34 second team all-league athletes. He has also seen 14 players earn All-American honors and another 33 capture all-region accolades. During the 2017 campaign, Colchagoff led the Oilers to a 28-7 record. The Oilers won the G-MAC regular season title and qualified for the NCAA Division II National Tournament. A year earlier in 2016, Colchagoff led the Oilers to a 21-10 record, which included a GLIAC South Division title and a trip to the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

Sophomore outside hitter Journey Blevins was an AVCA and D2CCA Honorable Mention All-American last season after she posted 398 kills (4.68/set). Findlay went 16-9 last season and 12-4 in the league. The Oilers lost in the opening round of the G-MAC Tournament in three sets to Ohio Dominican.

ABOUT ANDERSON
Anderson, a member of the South Atlantic Conference, is in South Carolina and is lead by sixth-year head coach Todd Hay. The Trojans finished 23-8 overall last season, including a 15-3 mark in the SAC. The Trojans have made an appearance in each NCAA Tournament since 2017, including three regional semifinal appearances. Hay has mentored five All-America honorees, 10 All-Region honorees, 23 All-SAC honorees and one conference player of the year. AU players have has garnered Southeast Region All-Tournament accolades six times since 2017, while capturing SAC All-Tournament recognition on seven occasions.  Hay has twice been named the South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year (2017 and 2021, while leading the Trojans to the SAC Tournament each season and making three appearances in the tournament semifinals and two straight appearances in the championship matchup. During that timeframe, the Black and Gold have captured two regular-season SAC Championships (2017 and 2021).

AU was tabbed third in the SAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Setter Madison Roy, middle blocker Noelle Knutsen, middle blocker Jaelyn Grimm and right-side hitter. Sadie Kluner earned Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference honors

ABOUT MCKENDREE
The Bearcats are led by head coach Nickie Sanlin who is in her 10th season. She also coaches the men's volleyball team at McKendree. They are coming off an 8-20 season but return 13 letterwinners and four starters, including a libero. McKendree was picked 10th in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Among the key returners are the team's top two returning offensive players – junior outside hitter Brianna Binder (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge) and junior outside hitter Colleen Preusser (St. Charles, Mo./Lutheran). Binder and Preusser combined for 514 kills and 605 digs a season ago.

UP NEXT
The Green & Gold will host the Warrior Invitational on Sept. 2-3 when 10 matches will be played over two days inside the Matthaei. Wayne State will matchup against Ursuline on Sept. 2 at 2:30 PM before facing Quincy later that night at 7:00 PM. Day two of the tournament features WSU and Pitt-Johnstown at 1:30 PM and then Northwood at 6:00 PM.

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Players Mentioned

#6 Kendyl Andrews: DS/L; 5' 8"; Freshman

#4 Leigha Baldwin: MB/OP; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#5 Maddy Benoit: DS/L; 5' 9"; Senior; 2

#7 Kamryn Duffield: S; 5' 9"; Graduate Student; 3

#11 Kayla Giroux: MB; 6' 2"; Freshman

#10 Jenna Kray: MB; 6' 1"; Junior; 1

#19 Maddie Morrison: OH; 6' 1"; Senior; 2

#9 Halle Shell: MB; 5' 11"; Graduate Student; 2

#20 Lauren VanderWal: OH; 6' 1"; Graduate Student; 3

#13 Alexa Withun: OP; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#6 Kendyl Andrews
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: DS/L

#4 Leigha Baldwin
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: MB/OP

#5 Maddy Benoit
: 5' 9"; Senior; 2
: DS/L

#7 Kamryn Duffield
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student; 3
: S

#11 Kayla Giroux
: 6' 2"; Freshman
: MB

#10 Jenna Kray
: 6' 1"; Junior; 1
: MB

#19 Maddie Morrison
: 6' 1"; Senior; 2
: OH

#9 Halle Shell
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student; 2
: MB

#20 Lauren VanderWal
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student; 3
: OH

#13 Alexa Withun
: 6' 4"; Junior
: OP