DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team is 4-0 for the first time since 2021 after winning all four of its 2025 Warrior Invitational matches. Saturday, the Warriors defeated Cedarville 3-1 before outlasting Winona State in a five-set thriller to cap off the tournament's nine matches.
"Outstanding first weekend for the Warriors," said head coach
Tim Koth. "That match against Winona State was a true team effort. Kayla (Giroux) and Kayla (Dulgar) deserved their All-Tournament selections. They were outstanding leaders and we're looking forward to what's next!"
Kayla Giroux (Flat Rock, Mich.) led the All-Tournament Team with MVP recognition while
Kayla Dulgar (Warsaw, Ohio / River View) was also one of the seven honorees. The other five names can be found below. For the two days, Giroux hit .487 with 64 kills and only nine errors on 113 attacks. In her own right, Dulgar was responsible for 169 assists (10.56 per set), 55 digs (3.44 per set) and 10 total blocks (all assisted). With those 169 helpers, she moved up two spots from ninth to seventh on the program's career assists chart with 2,292.
Not to be lost in the winning, against Winona State, Wayne State snapped a nine-match losing streak in five-set matches that dated back to the 2023 season. The Warriors were 0-6 in said matches last fall before a 1-5 ledger in five setters the season before.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP - Giroux - Wayne State
Dulgar - Wayne State
Kenna Kornely - Winona State
Abby Ongna - Winona State
Cassi Shields - Cedarville
Janae Heegaard - Cedarville
Renee Brines - Northwood
Match One - Wayne State 3, Cedarville 1
HOW IT HAPPENED (20-25, -22, -21, -18)
- Wayne State hit .240 for the match with 45 kills, 14 errors and 129 total attacks.
- Cedarville countered with a .121 clip on 47 kills, 29 mishaps and 149 swings.
- WSU's offense improved as the match went on with hitting percentages, in order, of -.133, .314, .353, .400.
- CU's best individual period was the second at .196 (17, 8, 46).
- Giroux and
Katie Smith each finished with 12 kills while hitting .385 and .265, respectively.
-
Kyleigh Weck tallied a personal-best six kills on 13 attacks with just two errors for a .308 output.
- Running the offense, Dulgar dished out 35 assists, and
Paige Giehtbrock was the lone Warrior with multiple service aces (4).
- Dulgar (35 assists, 16 digs) added the 22nd double-double of her career.
- Defensively,
Katerina Stout was at it again above the net with a team-leading six blocks, all assisted.
- Giroux (4 assisted), Dulgar (4 assisted), Weck (3 assisted), and Giehtbrock (2 assisted) each also had multiple stuffs.
- Three from the Green and Gold surpassed 10 digs including
Kendyl Andrews (18), Dulgar (16) and Giehtbrock (14).
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Match Two - Wayne State 3, Winona State 2
HOW IT HAPPENED (-23, 18-25, 22-25, -23, -15)
- After winning the first stanza, Wayne State set itself up for some adversity dropping both the second and third.
- Winona State out-hit the home team, .264 (57, 19, 144) to .244 (74, 35, 160).
- The host's best set was the second (.333, 15, 4, 33) while the visitors' was also the second (.343, 16, 4, 35).
- Giroux was unreal once again, sealing her Tournament MVP distinction with 23 kills (tied personal best).
- The senior middle hitter had just four miscues on 36 attempts for a .528 hitting percentage.
- Giehtbrock also went above the 10-kill plateau with 12 on her 42 swings. (eight errors, .095 percentage).
- Dulgar (55 assists, 14 digs) collected the 23rd double-double of her career and racked up 50+ assists for the ninth instance in the Green and Gold.
- Giehtbrock (three aces) and Giroux (two aces) were the best from the service line.
- Stout continued her stranglehold on the team lead in blocks with five, all assisted.
- Also above the net, Giroux (four, one solo), Dulgar (three assisted) and Weck (three assisted) finished with at least two apiece.
- The only Warrior better than Dulgar in the dig department was Andrews with 18.
LEADING THE WARRIORS
