DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (20-5 overall, 12-3) has won 20 matches in a single campaign for the 15th time in program history and just the second instance in the last 27 seasons (2021, 20-9). Thursday night inside the Matthaei, the Warriors took care of Grand Valley State (17-8 overall, 11-4 GLIAC) in four sets and swept the season series over the Lakers, a feat that last occurred in 2022.
Wayne State clinched a home court match for the quarterfinal round of the GLIAC Tournament for the second season in a row. With the Warriors' opponent yet to be decided (No. 7 or No. 8 seed), that match will be played on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. inside the Matthaei. WSU has clinched at least the No. 2 seed by virtue of winning head-to-head tiebreakers against both GVSU and Northern Michigan.
"What a great match tonight in front of an amazing crowd in the Matthaei Arena," said head coach
Tim Koth. "Our team played a very solid match against a very good Grand Valley State squad. I'm very proud."
Wayne State reached 10 home victories (10-1) in a single season for only the second time in the past 27 years (2021, 10-3). If the Warriors can edge Purdue Northwest on Friday night, they'll have won 11 times inside the friendly confines for the first instance since 1998 (11-2). The year prior to that was the last time WSU won 12 home matches in a single campaign at 13-2.
Wayne State 3, Grand Valley State 1
HOW IT HAPPENED (19-25, -14, -17, -20)
- Wayne State hit .254 for the match with 56 kills and 21 errors on 138 total attacks.
- The Green and Gold improved to 15-1 this season when they hit at least .239.
- Grand Valley State countered with a .127 clip, including 44 kills and 27 miscues on 134 attempts.
- WSU's best set was the second at .382 (14, 1, 34) while GVSU's was the first at .214 (12, 6, 28).
- Fifth-year senior Leigha Baldwin turned in the best performance of her career.
- Baldwin racked up 20 kills (personal best) and only two errors on 32 swings for a .563 hitting percentage.
- That performance was paramount as Kayla Giroux and Paige Giehtbrock were both held in check.
- Giroux (11, 5, 30, .200) and Giehtbrock (11, 5, 29, .207) finished with nearly identical offensive numbers.
- Staying on offense, Kayla Dulgar surpassed 1,000 assists for the season (1,007) with 48 on Friday.
- Behind the service line, Lauren Essenpreis (three aces), Dulgar (two), Giroux (one) and Giehtbrock (one) asserted themselves.
- Defensively, starting above the net, Giroux was the ringleader with eight blocks (one solo, seven assisted).
- Katerina Stout registered Wayne State's other solo stop to go with her four assisted.
- Dulgar (five assisted), Baldwin (five assisted) and Essenpreis (two assisted) were also in on the action.
- In the dig department, Kendyl Andrews led the way with 21 while Essenpreis tacked on 12 of her own.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
UP NEXT
Wayne State will host Purdue Northwest on Friday at 7 p.m. for the 2025 regular-season finale. If the Warriors win, they'll clinch at least a share of the GLIAC Regular-Season Championship. If WSU wins and Ferris State loses either of its two remaining matches, Wayne State will be the outright GLIAC Regular-Season Champions for the first time since 1981.
For the top seed in the GLIAC Tournament, Ferris State holds the tiebreaker over Wayne State after having beaten the Warriors in both of their meetings during the regular season.
