Keilyn Carpenter and the Warriors look to start the GLIAC schedule on the right foot.

Volleyball 9/8/2022 1:39:00 PM Cameron Weidenthaler, Assistant Media Relations Director

Volleyball Opens GLIAC Play This Weekend

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball starts GLIAC action this weekend with matches at Purdue Northwest on Friday at 8:00 PM and then the Warriors return home to host Ferris State on Sunday at 4:00 PM.

COACH KOTH
The 2021 GLIAC Coach of the Year, Tim Koth collected his 400th win as a women's volleyball coach last Saturday afternoon. The 2022 season is his 28th in collegiate coaching and ninth at Wayne State.

"I am looking forward to the start of conference play," said Koth. "The GLIAC is going to be exceptionally competitive this fall. Starting off with a split weekend is a little different so that should be interesting as we see a much improved Purdue Northwest team on Friday and then host a Ferris State team that looks to have found themselves. We continue to be a work in progress, but I really like our team, so these should be some great opening weekend matches."

LAST WEEKEND
The Warriors went 3-1 at the Warrior Invitational last weekend. WSU topped Ursuline, Pitt-Johnstown and Northwood but lost in four sets to Quincy.

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kamryn Duffield and Lauren VanderWal both earned spots on the All-Tournament Team, which was announced on Saturday night following the completion of the event.

4,000 ASSISTS
Kamryn Duffield became the fourth Warrior ever to record 4,000 career assists. She now has 4,024 helpers and needs 66 assists to move into third place all-time in program history. The program record is 5,136 by Tracy Hanger (1992-95) and Amy Horgan is second with 4,097.

AWARD WINNERS
After the season-opening week of action, 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.

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
Purdue Northwest is 5-3 overall after going 3-1 at the Kentucky Wesleyan Invitational last weekend. The Pride won over Henderson State, Kentucky Wesleyan and Maryville but lost to William Jewell. Head coach Sean Douglas is in his first season leading the PNW volleyball program. The Pride were picked 10th in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.  Purdue Northwest returns All-GLIAC Honorable Mention middle blocker Erica Brohm and last years starting setter Olivia Brooke.

Ferris State is 2-6 to start the season under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm who is in her 27th season leading the Bulldogs. Last season, FSU finished 27-5 overall and 12-2 in the GLIAC, winning the conference tournament and reaching the regional final before losing to Hillsdale. FSU was tabbed fourth in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

UP NEXT
WSU will have two road GLIAC matches next weekend. First, the Warriors will play at Parkside on Friday at 1:00 PM before meeting Davenport on Saturday at 5:00 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