WSU will play five of its next six matches inside the Matthaei.

Volleyball 9/1/2022 8:45:00 AM Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Volleyball Starts Home Season with Warrior Invitational

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team will take on hosting duties this weekend for the Warrior Invitational. WSU will face Ursuline (2:30 PM) and Quincy on Friday (7:00 PM) before matching up against Pitt-Johnstown (1:30 PM) and Northwood on Saturday (6:00 PM).

COACH KOTH
The 2021 GLIAC Coach of the Year, Tim Koth needs two 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 are looking forward to hosting the Warrior Invitational this weekend," said Koth. "It has always been a fun, well-run event that provides some great entertainment for fans. The teams attending look to be very competitive - so it should make for exciting volleyball at the Matthaei arena. We also are looking forward to getting a few more of our pieces back on the floor and getting a closer look at what our complete roster looks like before we begin conference play."

AWARD WINNERS
This past week, graduate outside hitter Lauren VanderWal (Caledonia, Mich.) earned Offensive Player of the Week accolades, while senior libero Maddy Benoit (Farmington, Mich. / Mercy) was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week. VanderWal totaled 60 kills (4.93/set), hit .280 and collected a pair of double-doubles in the four matches in Indianapolis. In a 3-0 sweep, she posted 18 kills and hit .500 for the match and notched 18 kills plus 16 digs in the five-set win over McKendree. VanderWal also tallied nine total blocks en route to collecting her third career weekly GLIAC honor. Benoit surpassed 1,000 career digs in the three-set win over Montevallo in the season opener. She totaled 86 digs (6.14/set) and 10 services aces. Benoit notched 26 digs vs. Anderson before finishing the tournament with 28 digs in the win over McKendree.

LAST WEEKEND
The Warriors went 3-1 at the UIndy Invitational last weekend. WSU swept Montevallo and Findlay on Friday and rebounded from a Saturday morning loss to Anderson to win five sets over McKendree. Lauren VanderWal finished the four matches with 60 kills (4.29/set) and hit .280, while Kamryn Duffield handed out 134 assists (9.57/set). Halle Shell had 20 total blocks (1.43/set), while Maddy Benoit tallied 86 digs (6.14/set).

BENOIT'S MILESTONE
In the season-opening win over Montevallo, Maddy Benoit collected 24 digs to give her over 1,000 digs for her career, which ranks 10th all-time in program history.

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 THE OPPONENTS
Ursuline comes into this weekend at 2-1 after wins over Slippery Rock and Salem at the Fairmont State Classic. Head coach Haley Paonessa is in her first season on the job. The Arrows were selected sixth in the Preseason G-MAC Coaches Poll.

Quincy has won all four matches this season, which started at the Henderson State Tournament. The Hawks also have a preseason exhibition win over Division I Western Illinois under their belt. Head coach Mark Jones is in hos fourth season at the helm. QU was picked to finish fifth in the GLVC Preseason Coaches Poll.  Quincy returns reigning GLVC Freshman of the Year Emma Wijnbergen, along with GLVC First Team selection Makayla Knoblauch and Emily Rehagen.

Pitt-Johnstown also competed at the Fairmont State Classic and went 1-2 with a win over Salem. Head coach Morgan Mammosser is in her first season with the Mountain Cats. UPJ was tabbed fifth in the PSAC Western Division in the preseason coaches poll. Putt-Johnstown just missed a spot in the 2021 PSAC Tournament, returns three starters in senior middle hitter Katelyn Courtney (1.44 kills/set, 12 solo blocks, 48 block assists, 60 blocks), sophomore outside hitter Lualis Alvarado (255 kills, 3.07 kills/set, 19 aces, 2.93 digs/set, 23 blocks) and sophomore setter Adiamar Beaz (919 assists, 9.99 assists/set, 45 aces, 308 digs, 3.35 digs/set).

Northwood is under the direction of head coach David Shumaker who is in his seventh year leading the T-Wolves. NU was selected to finish fourth in the G-MAC North Division in the preseason coaches poll. The Timberwolves started the season 2-2 with wins over Fayetteville State and Shippensburg at the Clarion Invitational.

UP NEXT
Wayne State begins the league schedule on the road at Purdue Northwest on Friday at 8:00 PM before hosting Ferris State on Sunday at 4:00 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