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DETROIT -- The Wayne State University volleyball program (2-4, 0-2 GLIAC) attempt to collect its first conference win of the season this weekend against Ohio Dominican (4-4, 2-0 GLIAC) on Friday and Tiffin (4-1, 2-0 GLIAC) on Saturday.  

The matches will be played in Gym 109/110 inside the Matthaei due to the new court construction on Matthaei's main floor. Also due to the court renovation, there will be no Warrior All-Access Internet streaming for any of the September matches.
 

Setting the Stage	Wayne State Volleyball vs. Ohio Dominican & Tiffin
Dates	Friday, Sept. 19 - Saturday Sept. 20
Time	vs. Ohio Dominican (7 PM)  |  vs. Tiffin (2 PM)
Location	Detroit, Mich. | Matthaei Gym 109/110
Internet	Twitter: @WayneStWarriors | Live Stats
Opponent Info	Ohio Dominican  |  Tiffin

NEW LEADER
A familiar name in the GLIAC, Tim Koth came to WSU after 10 highly productive seasons at Northwood, which included 175 victories, five NCAA Tournament appearances and a GLIAC Tournament title in 2012. Koth will look to return the Warriors to the GLIAC Tournament after being absent in 2013 for the first time since 2006, and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1994. He carries a career record of 285-267 in his 19 years of coaching. He is assisted by Michael Lozier and Dale Hartzell.

2014 CAPTAINS
Coach Koth announced his team captains for the 2014 season on July 28th. Senior Carlee Hunt (Waterford, Mich. / Walled Lake Northern), junior Madison Reeves (Indianapolis, Ind. / Avon), junior Kelsey Bonewits (Griffith, Ind.) and sophomore Mikayla Shell (Croswell, Mich. / Croswell-Lexington) will serve as the team's leaders this season.

"We believe these four ladies each bring their own different qualities as leaders for our team," said Koth. "In naming Carlee, Kelsey, Madison, and Mikayla – we have a lot of faith that we will have good leadership both on the floor, in the locker room and out in the community – and that they will represent Wayne State Volleyball in the manner in which we expect. We are looking forward to getting started in a few weeks."

Hunt was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team and served as a team captain in 2013. She played in 29 matches, started 21 times and appeared in 104 sets. Hunt was second on the team with 277 digs (2.66/set). Reeves, who was named to the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team last season, also served as a team captain. She was a CoSIDA Academic All-District nominee, started all 26 matches played and led the team with 909 assists (9.09/set). Bonewits was also named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team and played in 26 matches in 2013, starting 24 times. She was fourth on the team with 119 kills (1.37/set) and led team with 80 total blocks (0.92/set), including 11 solo blocks. Shell played in 23 matches and made 10 starts. She appeared in 66 sets and totaled 74 kills (1.12/set).

IN THE POLLS
The GLIAC announced its Preseason Coaches' Poll on Aug. 14 with the Warriors and first-year head coach Tim Koth predicted to finish fifth in the North Division. Grand Valley State was selected to win the North with 55 points and seven first-place votes with Ferris State picking up the eighth and final first-place vote. The coaches tabbed Ashland as the preseason favorite to win the South Division with 46 points and six first-place votes. Hillsdale snagged the other two first-place votes.

YOUTH MOVEMENT
All five newcomers are making a significant impact in their first season with the program. As Coach Koth predicted prior to the season, all five have found time in the rotation while a few have made starts for the Green & Gold. Hannah Moore has played in all 24 sets while making five starts and finished the opening tournament with 40 kills (2.22/set) and 43 digs (2.39/set). Grace Frazee also has appeared in all 24 sets thus far, starting five matches. She has collected 43 kills (1.79/set). Michelle Asiedu has brought her athleticism to the roster and has played in six matches totaling 39 kills (2.84/set). Madison Kielty is the team's libero and leads the team with 91 digs (3.79/set), while Brittany Guldan has seen action in eight sets and dished out 54 assists (6.75/set).

OPENING WEEKEND
The Warriors have fared well in recent opening weekends, posting a .500 record or better in seven of the last eight years following its split of the four matches in Pennsylvania. Last season, the Warriors went 3-1 at the Laker Classic including a win over #6 Southwest Minnesota State. In 2012, the Warriors went 2-2 at the NSU Sharks Classic. WSU went 1-3 in 2011 at Missouri-St. Louis, 2-2 at Indianapolis in 2010, won all four matches in the 2009 WSU Invitational, posted a 3-1 record at the Cal State Monterey Bay Otter Classic in 2008, and won two of four matches at Francis Marion in 2007.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Head coach Sandy Rowley is entering her 26th season with ODU and carries a 487-438 record. The Panthers have started its GLIAC schedule 2-0 after home wins over Malone and Walsh to improve to 3-4 overall. ODU cruised past Chalreston (W.V.) to reacht he ,500 mark at 4-4. Tory Thompson leads the team with 69 kills (3.63/set) while Kelsey Fortney and Ashlin Aiken both have over 100 assists.

After finishing just one game out of a spot in the 2013 conference tournament, Ohio Dominican's volleyball team returns a veteran cast to the court in 2014. With five seniors on the roster and plenty of underclassmen who saw extensive playing time last season, the Panthers have experience and depth around the court.

Key returners back for ODU include senior Lauren Kraemer (288 kills, .219 attack percentage, 71 blocks) and sophomore Jackie Oestreich (Honorable Mention All-GLIAC, 275 kills, .292 attack percentage, 82 blocks.) The healthy return of senior Caitlin Kusan and junior Tory Thompson is also key – the duo led the Panthers in kills in 2012, but Kusan missed all of 2013 with injury while Thompson was limited to just six matches.

SCOUTING THE DRAGONS
Dana Cordova is in her fifth season coaching Tiffin volleyball and has a 49-70 record with the Dragons. She has led Tiffin to a 4-1 start in 2014 includinga 2-0 GLIAC record with wins over Walh and Malone. Lu Phillips leads the offense with 69 kills (3.63/set) and Tiffany Buchinger has tallied 195 assists (10.26/set).

Tiffin finished 14-13 overall in 2013 but just 5-13 in the GLIAC, a record they plan to improve in 2014. Overall the Dragons went 3-0 to win the Battle of the Boulevard last season and also went unbeaten at the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover, but fifth-year Head Coach Dana Cordova plans on mixing talented returners with some new athletes during the upcoming season.

Top returners for the Dragons include setter Tiffany Buchinger, who set a new Tiffin Division II record with 1,030 assists last season. Tiffin also returns three of their top five hitters, led by Olivia Cobb (174 kills), Chelsea Stockmeyer (170 kills), and Lu Phillips (100 kills).

SERIES HISTORY
Wayne State and Ohio Dominican have met all of five times and the Warriors have won all five meetings. The two teams began playing in 2010. WSU also has an advnatage in the all-time series against Tiffin, leading 10-1 with the only loss to the Dragons coming in 2010.

LAST TIME OUT
Two of the top teams in the conference and in the country visited Detroit to begin the Warriors' league slate. WSU fell to #18 GVSU on Friday night, which included a thrilling 34-32 second set. On Saturday afternoon, #15 Ferris State handled the home team in straight sets.

UP NEXT
WSU will stay at home to conclude its five-match homestand with Saginaw Valley State on Tuesday at 7 PM.