DETROIT -- GLIAC play is here for the Wayne State University volleyball team starting with No. 24 Ferris State on Thursday (7 p.m.) in the 2023 home opener and then a trip to Purdue Northwest on Saturday (3 p.m. eastern).

COACH KOTH
"The GLIAC looks to be as competitive as ever top to bottom.  Every night will be a war and it's an exciting challenge."

LAST TIME OUT
The Warriors went 1-3 at the Findlay Classic, defeating Cedarville in four sets on Saturday.  However, Wayne State dropped matches against IUP (3-1), Hillsdale (3-1) and the host Oilers (3-0).  Wrapping up WSU's first eight matches of the season, six of which were against opponents from the NCAA's Midwest Region, the Warriors went 3-5.  Prior to the Findlay Classic, Wayne State opened the 2023 season with the Ferris State Invitational and recorded a record of 2-2, the two victories being against Malone (3-0) and Thomas More (3-1) on the first day of the season.  On day two of that tournament, the Warriors came up short against Indianapolis (3-1) and No. 8 Minnesota Duluth (3-0).

GLIAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore middle hitter Kayla Giroux was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in her career on Tuesday.  The honor came after Giroux hit .422 in Wayne State's four matches last week and was featured on the Findlay Classic All-Tournament Team.  That distinction meant her second appearance on an All-Tournament Team already this season after the Ferris State Invitational in week one.  This past Friday and Saturday, Giroux racked up 44 kills to just nine errors on 83 total attacks.  The 6-2 menace tallied 13 or more kills in three of the four matches, including 15 against Cedarville, while hitting at least .385 for each of them. 

LEADING THE WAY
The Wayne State offense has been paced by Giroux so far this season.  Right now, Giroux's offensive efficiency sits at .448, fourth best in the league, as she's racked up 83 kills to just 14 errors on 154 total attacks.  Also factoring into the attack have been a pair of newcomers in Molly Miller with a team-leading 100 kills (tied-for-third in GLIAC) and Katie Smith with 58, each of which have started all eight matches like Giroux.  The fourth and final Warrior to have been in every starting lineup is Kayla Dulgar and her 282 assists, 10.07 per set, both of which are second in the conference.  Kendyl Andrews' 11 service aces rank ninth in the league while Dulgar's 10 are right behind her in 10th.  Defensively, Andrews leads the GLIAC in digs with 125 while Giroux is slotted in 13th in total blocks with 19.

ABOUT FERRIS STATE (5-3 overall, 0-0 GLIAC)
Ferris State was picked to win the GLIAC in the coaches' preseason poll with 79 points and seven first-place votes.  The Bulldogs offense is also led by a middle hitter, Olivia Henneman-Dallape and her 102 kills (second in the GLIAC), 3.64 per set (first in the GLIAC).  Running point is Kaylee Maat with 293 assists and 10.46 per period, both of which are tops in the GLIAC.  FSU's other statistical leaders include Maat with 13 aces (tied-for-fourth in GLIAC), Leah Bylut with 92 digs and Chelsie Freeman with 28 blocks (tied-for-first in GLIAC).  Ferris State is coached by 28th-year head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.

GLIAC SETTER OF THE WEEK
Ferris State's Maat was named GLIAC Setter of the Week after she totaled 153 assists while averaging 10.20 assists per set in the Bulldogs' four matches, which included three nationally-ranked opponents, in addition to longtime regional power Lewis.  She added 32 digs, 11 kills, four aces and two blocks in FSU's 2-2 week.

ABOUT PURDUE NORTHWEST (5-3 overall, 0-0 GLIAC)
Purdue Northwest is on a four-match winning streak, taking all four outings at Parkside's Hampton Inn Invitational last week, after starting 1-3 at the Westminster Invitational.  Coached by second-year leader Sean Douglas, Anika Huelskamp (85 kills) and Arra Cottrell (84 kills) are on top of his offense.  Aiding the attack have been a pair of setters in Marina Gronkiewicz (156 assists) and Olivia Brooke (114 assists).  At the service line, the Pride have more aces than any other GLIAC team with 69, including 15 from Livia Thomsen, 15 from Huelskamp and 12 from Summer Clark.  On the other side of the ball, PNW's story has been about Thomsen's 110 digs and Erica Brohm's 28 blocks.