DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (6-8 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) is heading back out on the road.  The Warriors will be at 16th-ranked Grand Valley State (12-2 overall, 6-0 GLIAC) on Friday for a 6 p.m. first serve and Roosevelt (5-8 overall, 2-4 GLIAC) on Saturday for a 5 p.m. eastern time start.

Coach's Corner
"It's going to be a quick turnaround to play both Grand Valley State and Roosevelt again, this time on the road," said head coach Tim Koth.  "GLIAC road trips are tough, but we're looking forward to the challenge this week."

Warrior Strong
Starting on offense, three players have been the catalyst for Wayne State's attack.  Those three are senior outside hitter Katie Smith (153, .245), junior outside hitter Saige Martin (144 kills, .157 hitting percentage) and sophomore middle hitter Katerina Stout (129, .322).  Having just come back from an injury with nine matches played (six starts), junior opposite Kyleigh Weck is up to 85 kills and a .366 hitting efficiency to show for them.  Senior setter Kayla Dulgar continues to lead the Green and Gold in the two other major offensive categories, including 522 assists and 14 service aces.  Those 14 aces are tied with freshman Doga Muhtaroglu for the team lead.  Right on the heels of those two are 13 from Smith, already one shy of the career high she set as a freshman in 2023, and 10 from another rookie in libero Giselle Burlingame.  Defensively for the Warriors, Burlingame (183 digs) and Stout (48 total blocks) are the squad's frontrunners.

Last Time Out - Grand Valley State (Sept. 12; L, 0-3)
- Wayne State finished the match with an .095 hitting percentage, 32 kills and 22 errors on 105 total attacks.
- Grand Valley State came to play with a .356 efficiency, 41 kills and nine errors on 90 attempts.
- The Lakers were at their best in the deciding set at .545 (18-0-33).
- The Warriors opened with a .167 (12-6-36) in the first period.
- Starting on offense, WSU's kill leaders were Kyleigh Weck and Katie Smith, each with nine.
- Weck hit .350 on 20 swings (two errors) while Smith finished at .138 on 29 attacks (five errors).
- Kayla Dulgar dished out 26 assists while her (one service ace) and Smith (three aces) were the best behind the service line.
- Defensively, Giselle Burlingame (14 digs), Nicole Dupre (three block assists) and Weck (two block assists) were at the forefront.

Last Time Out - Roosevelt (Sept. 26; W, 3-0)
- Wayne State hit .250 for the match with 38 kills and 14 errors on 96 total attacks.
- Roosevelt managed to hit just -.011 with 19 kills and 20 mishaps on 90 attempts.
- That clip is the lowest by a Green and Gold opponent since Upper Iowa's -.111 on Sept. 5, 2025 during the Warrior Invitational.
- The Warriors' most efficient set was the opening one at .310 (10-1-29).
- The Lakers were net positive in the second at .036 (5-4-28).
- RU had six total blocks to WSU's five, but the home team controlled the other five major head-to-head categories.
- That included points (54-25), kills (38-19), service aces (11-0), assists (35-19), and digs (44-35).

- Individually, Wayne State's top three leaders in kills were lethal.
- That trio consisted of Katie Smith (10 kills, .450 hitting percentage), Katerina Stout (10, .476) and Kyleigh Weck (8, .375).
- Running point as always was Kayla Dulgar with 24 assists to her name.
- Behind the service line, the Warriors made some series hay.
- Of WSU's 11 aces, five came from freshman Bryn Mullins, the first five of her career in her eighth collegiate match.
- Smith and Giselle Burlingame each had multiple aces as well with two apiece.
- Defensively, Lauren Essenpreis and Burlingame each tallied 10 digs.
- Above the net, Essenpreis and Stout each finished with three block assists.

Up Next
Wayne State will host top-ranked Ferris State on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. and Northern Michigan the following Saturday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m.