DETROIT -- Fresh off a 2-0 week of GLIAC road action at Saginaw Valley State and Lake Superior State last Friday and Saturday, the Wayne State University volleyball team (5-6 overall, 3-1 GLIAC) is back home in the Matthaei. The Warriors will host No. 16 Grand Valley State on Thursday at 7 p.m. before seeing new league member Roosevelt the following day.
Coach Tim Koth's Corner
"We've got two important home matches this week," said Koth. "The team has been working hard, and is improving. This should be a small test as to how much progress we have made."
About Last Week
As mentioned above, Wayne State went 2-0 on the road thanks to a four-set victory at Saginaw Valley State and sweep at Lake Superior State. The Warriors have beaten the Cardinals for nine matches in a row. Then, The Warriors won in straight sets on the Lakers' floor for just the second time since 2010. At LSSU, WSU hit .280, its third-best percentage of the young season and highest so far on the road.
Scouting Grand Valley State (11-1 overall, 3-1 GLIAC)
Led by fourth-year head coach Jason Johnson (74-29 record), Grand Valley State has yet to lose away from home at 6-0. Overall, the Lakers' lone defeat came in four sets on their court against No. 9 Ferris State on Sept. 20. When looking at the all-time series, WSU has dropped two in a row against GVSU for the first time since October of 2016, and the Lakers lead by six overall, 17-11. Prior to the two-match skid, Wayne State had been on the right side in nine of 10 meetings.
Individually, Grand Valley State's efforts are spearheaded by two-time AVCA All-American (First Team in 2023), Jordyn Gates. Gates paces the Lakers in kills (112) and assists (259) while ranking in a tie-for-second in total blocks (35), tie-for-second in service aces (13) and third in digs (118). The Arkansas transfer has 32 triple-doubles to her name, including an NCAA single-season record 15 last season, and four so far this fall. GVSU's other statistical leaders include Meghan O'Sullivan (20 aces), Julia Blaney (195 digs) and Paige Sanders (51 blocks).
Scouting Roosevelt (1-11 overall, 0-4 GLIAC)
In search of its first ever GLIAC victory, Roosevelt comes into Detroit under seventh-year head coach Nicasio Paquiz, Jr. (43-132 overall). The 2023 season was one of the best in program history with two players named to the All-CCAC team and the team's first postseason appearance in six seasons. Fast forward to this fall and the team is off to a slow start as a member of Division II. RU's statistical leaders include Viktoria Marysheva (106 kills), Zoe Hutchinson (249 assists), Cydney Martinez (14 aces, 95 digs) and Yuliia Shchepkina (28 blocks).
