DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (13-11, 10-4 GLIAC) won its third consecutive match and fifth of the last six on Saturday for Senior Day against Saginaw Valley State (6-19 overall, 3-11 GLIAC) inside the Matthaei. The Warriors swept the regular-season series against the Cardinals and did so with set scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 25-13.
"Senior Day can sometimes be a tricky day, but I thought we navigated through relatively well against a very competitive team from SVSU," said head coach
Tim Koth. "Katie (Smith) and Kayla (Giroux) both had monster days offensively. I'm very proud of our effort."
GLIAC Tournament wise, Wayne State has clinched a home match for the quarterfinal round on Wednesday, Nov. 20. The Warriors' seed and opponent are to be decided, but the match will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Matthaei.
Wayne State 3, Saginaw Valley State 0
HOW IT HAPPENED (-20, -19, -13)
- After winning just two of its first six home matches this season, Wayne State has been on the right end for five straight.
- All seven of the Warriors' victories inside the Matthaei have come in straight sets.
- Friday, Wayne State hit .340 with 46 kills and 14 errors on 94 total attacks.
- On the other side, Saginaw Valley State finished at .146 with 30 kills and 17 mishaps on 89 attempts.
- WSU's best set was the third at .448 (15-2-29) while SVSU's was the second at .188 (11-5-32).
- As coach Koth mentioned,
Kayla Giroux and
Katie Smith had big days hitting .684 and .600 respectively.
- Giroux notched 14 kills to only one error on 19 swings while Smith accounted for 10 kills, one error and 15 total attacks.
- In her last four matches, Smith is hitting .364 with 36 kills and only eight errors on 77 swings.
- Also on offense,
Kayla Dulgar notched 39 assists and
Carly Rodman sent home a pair of service aces.
- Defensively, Wayne State was paced by a trio of players with two blocks and
Maya Wegand's match-high 10 digs, one off her career high.
- Those three Warriors with three blocks were Giroux,
Molly Miller and
Keilyn Carpenter.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Prior to first serve against the Cardinals, the Warriors recognized their five seniors in Miller, Carpenter, Rodman,
Jenna Kray and
Ella Uganski.
Up Next
Wayne State will hit the road for its final two matches of the regular season beginning with a trip to No. 12 Grand Valley State (23-2 overall, 12-2 GLIAC) on Thursday beginning at 6 p.m. in Allendale. The Warriors took the first two sets against the Lakers at home before falling in five back on Oct. 3.
