DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team is back on the road this week for the Findlay Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Warriors will face IUP (11 a.m.) and Hillsdale (3 p.m.) on day one before seeing Cedarville (1 p.m.) and the host Findlay (5 p.m.) on day two.
COACH KOTH
"We're looking forward to this weekend's opportunity to play four very good programs and we'll see how much we have progressed from week one to now."
LAST WEEK OUT
Wayne State opened the season going 2-2 at the Ferris State Invitational, which included wins over Malone (3-0) and Thomas More (3-1) on day one. However, the Warriors then dropped a pair of matches the following day against the likes of Indianapolis (1-3) and No. 8 Minnesota Duluth (0-3). On the offensive side of things, WSU was led by a trio of hitters in
Molly Miller (42 kills, 3.0 per set),
Katie Smith (41 kills, .225 hitting percentage) and
Kayla Giroux (39 kills, .479 hitting percentage). Facilitating the attack was
Kayla Dulgar and her 135 assists (9.64 per set). Defensively,
Kendyl Andrews was the ringleader in digs with 65 (4.64 per set) and above the net, both Dulgar and
Ella Uganski tallied nine total blocks.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
At the conclusion of the Ferris State Invitational, Giroux and Dulgar were both named to the All-Tournament Team. Giroux hit .479 in the team's four matches with 39 kills and only five errors on 71 total attacks. Giroux also notched eight total blocks above the net, including one solo and seven assisted. Taking over as the team's setter, Dulgar racked up 135 assists, including 36 in each of the first three matches, and 9.64 per set. The freshman also earned the first double-double of her career thanks to 26 digs in the first match of her collegiate career.
GLIAC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Andrews was named
GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her career on Tuesday. The honor comes after Andrews racked up 65 total digs and 4.64 per set in Wayne State's first four matches of the season. Making the first starts of her career as the libero, the Flushing, Mich. native notched 20 digs in a pair of outings to go with three service aces and 15 assists for the week.
ABOUT IUP (3-2)
Indiana University of Pennsylvania already has five matches under its belt after competing in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Kickoff Tournament and traveling to West Liberty for a mid-week affair. The Crimson Hawks won three matches in a row, defeating Wilmington (3-1), Chestnut Hill (3-0) and West Chester (3-1). Offensively, IUP's leaders so far have been Nyla Birch (59 kills), Kat Warpinski (120 assists) and Bailey Flowerdew (10 service aces). On the other side of the ball, headlining play have been Flowerdew again (65 digs) and Caroline Walsh (25 total blocks). The Crimson Hawks are coached by second-year leader, Lorelle Hoyer.
ABOUT HILLSDALE (2-2)
Receiving six votes in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, Hillsdale was in Marquette, Mich. for the Northern Michigan Open to begin the season. There, the Chargers won their season opener over the host Wildcats in straight sets and then ended the trip with a 3-2 defeat of Michigan Tech. Statistically, leading the way for HC has been Marilyn Popplewell (52 kills, .263 hitting percentage), Lauren Passaglia (138 assists), Alli Wiese (9 aces, 76 digs), and Maizie Brown (14 total blocks). The Chargers are coached by 28th-year veteran, Chris Gravel.
ABOUT CEDARVILLE (2-2)
Cedarville kicked off its fall with a sweep of Shepherd before defeating Glenville State in four sets, two matches later, as part of its own invitational. Both Greta Blakemore and Cassi Shields have sent home 39 kills to lead the Yellow Jackets while hitting .200 and .152, respectively. Also on the attack, Kaley Matney has dished out 152 assists and Shields is responsible for 12 service aces. On the flip side, Talia Felton has dug out 36 attacks and Haley Koch has stuffed 14 total swings. Just beginning his sixth season at the helm, CU is coached by Greg Smith.
ABOUT FINDLAY (3-1)
Also getting mentions in the latest AVCA poll, 12 of them this week, Findlay has notched three victories like IUP. All three of the Oilers triumphs were in straight sets, including Augustana, Fort Hays State and No. 22 Colorado School of Mines. Their lone defeat came against No. 21 Colorado Mesa right before that. On top of the charts individually is Kirsten Bomholt (54 kills, .252 hitting percentage), Emma White (156 assists), Ava Dooster (6 service aces, 45 digs), and Kenzie Hoelscher. Also coached by a veteran head coach, UF is led by 26th-year leader Wick Colchagoff.
