DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team will host a pair of matches this week, the squad's final contests inside the Matthaei until Oct. 20. The Warriors will welcome Grand Valley State on Friday at 7 p.m. before a 4 p.m. first serve against Lake Superior State on Saturday.
COACH KOTH
"We're looking forward to being home for two matches this weekend. We've had a good week of practice and I hope to see some translation to the court in competition."
LEADING THE WAY
The Wayne State offense has been paced by Giroux so far this season. Right now, Giroux's offensive efficiency sits at .379, fifth best in the league, as she's racked up 97 kills to just 23 errors on 195 total attacks. Also factoring into the attack have been a pair of newcomers in
Molly Miller with a team-leading 124 kills (fourth in the GLIAC) and
Katie Smith with 73, each of which have started all 10 matches like Giroux. The fourth and final Warrior to have been in every starting lineup is
Kayla Dulgar and her 345 assists, 9.32 per set, both of which are second in the conference.
Kendyl Andrews' 17 service aces rank in a tie-for-fourth in the league while
Carly Rodman's 15 are close behind her in ninth. Defensively, Andrews ranks second in the GLIAC in digs with 160 while Giroux is slotted in a tie-for-13th in total blocks with 24.
ABOUT GRAND VALLEY STATE (7-1 overall, 1-1 GLIAC)
Grand Valley State went 6-0 to begin the season, the program's best start since opening up at 9-0 in 2000. Then GLIAC play started this season and GVSU was swept by Michigan Tech, but bounced back to defeat Northern Michigan in four sets the following day. Jordyn Gates leads the Lakers with 85 kills while ranking second in both assists (130) and digs (73). This season, GVSU has recorded 61 total blocks compared to just 34 for their opponents. Individually, Brianna Stawski and Sarah Wight lead the way in that department with over 20 apiece. At the service line, the Lakers have sent home 55 aces paced by Kendall Stover and Rachel Jacquay with 12 and 10, respectfully.
GLIAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Grand Valley State's junior Jordyn Gates received the honor following her week of 30 kills, 37 assists and 18 digs. It was the first GLIAC Player of the Week award for the 2022 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American. Gates hit .300, tallied 13 kills and dished out 16 assists in the GLIAC opener against Michigan Tech. The next day in the Lakers' win over Northern Michigan, Gates recorded her second triple-double of the season with 17 kills, 21 assists and 16 digs, all while swinging at a .457 clip.
ABOUT LAKE SUPERIOR STATE (2-8 overall, 1-1 GLIAC)
Lake Superior State is coming off of its first GLIAC victory of the season after coming back from down two sets to one to defeat Saginaw Valley State. The Lakers would also have a historic performance defensively in that victory with the team racking up 112 digs on the day, which ties the ninth-most digs in a single match in program history. LSSU's team leaders include Mariana Velasque (131 kills), Emily Kalinowski (337 assists), Emily Hagelthorn (11 service aces), Ally Lasley (105 digs), Kalinowski (101 digs), Hagelthorn (99 digs) and Emilee McDaniel (20 total blocks).
GLIAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lake Superior State senior Emily Kalinowski had a 58-assist performance (top mark by any GLIAC player this season) in the Lakers' victory over Saginaw Valley State. That effort marked the seventh-best single-match performance in terms of assists in LSSU history, while also pushing her to 1,724 career assists, which is also now the seventh-best mark in program history. Kalinowski was also able to add 19 digs defensively, including 11 against SVSU to complete her fifth double-double of the season.
