DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball team (11-10 overall, 4-6 GLIAC) is set to host its final two home matches of the 2026 regular season, beginning with a date against Davenport (13-7 overall, 5-5 GLIAC) on Tuesday at 7 p.m. inside the Matthaei.

Coach's Corner
"Although it's a very quick turnaround after the long Crossover weekend, we are looking forward to getting back into GLIAC play against a very competitive team from Davenport," said head coach Tim Koth.

Warrior Strong
Starting on offense, three players have powered Wayne State's hitting attack as of late.  That trio includes senior outside hitter Katie Smith (246 kills, .259 hitting percentage), junior opposite Kyleigh Weck (163, .351) and sophomore outside hitter Lauren Essenpreis (137, .129).  That .351 efficiency for Weck leads the team and ranks fifth in the league.  Senior setter Kayla Dulgar continues to lead the Green and Gold in assists with 782 while Smith has paced the service ace department with 28, twice as many as her previous career high set as a freshman in 2023.  The senior attacker is one of five with double-digit aces, the other four being rookie middle hitter Doga Muhtaroglu with 24, Dulgar with 20, freshman libero Giselle Burlingame with 19, and Essenpreis with 12.  Defensively for the Warriors, Burlingame (279 digs) and sophomore middle blocker Katerina Stout (51 total blocks) are the squad's frontrunners.

All-Tournament Team
Seven players from the GLIAC were selected as representatives for the Midwest Region Crossover All-Tournament Team, two of which were Warriors in Dulgar and Smith.  That tandem helped lead Wayne State to its first undefeated Crossover in 15 years. 

Starting with the Dulgar, the senior totaled 148 assists (13.5 per set), 37 digs, three service aces, three kills, and one block in Wayne State's 3-0 stretch.  The veteran setter also ecured her eighth double-double of the season on Friday against SBU with 61 assists (two off career high) and 20 digs (six off career high).  That was her 39th career double-double, but first with 60+ assists and 20+ digs.  Dulgar took over sole possession of fourth place in the program record book for most career assists with 4,095, just two away from third.

As for Smith and her first career All-Tournament Team, she racked up 59 kills (5.4 kills per set) to just 16 errors on 122 total attacks for a .352 hitting percentage.  She totaled 22 kills in each of the team's first two matches, a new career high for the senior, to go with seven service aces, eight digs and six total blocks.

Scouting Davenport
Coming in at 13-7 overall and 5-5 in league play, Davenport went 2-1 at the Crossover as those two Friday victories snapped the team's two-match losing streak coming in.  Coached by third-year leader Charley Andrews (36-41 overall, .468 winning percentage), the Panthers have gone 3-1 in their previous four matches away from home.  DU ranks 31st nationally in assists per set (12.6) and 57th in aces per set (1.99).

Statistically, four players have provided the most fuel for the offense.  That quartet includes senior outside hitter Abby Alan (220 kills, 38 aces), freshman setter Keira Dommer (426 assists) and sophomore setter Madison Berry (354 assists).  Among the best behind the service line in the country, Alan ranks 27th in aces per set (0.54) and 39th in total aces.  Defensively, junior libero Hayley Carr (327 digs), sophomore middle blocker Amelia Werner (61 total blocks) and senior middle blocker Mariya Montgomery (58 total blocks) are on top of the stats.

Up Next
Wayne State will play its final home match of the regular season on Friday night when it hosts Parkside at 7 p.m. inside the Matthaei.