Eastern Wayne Today

Wayne State University's volleyball team is set to conclude the first half of its 16-match league schedule this week. The Warriors, with a current record of 6-7 overall and 4-2 in the GLIAC, will travel to Purdue Northwest on Friday for a match starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time. They will then face Parkside on Saturday at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Both matches are scheduled in the central time zone.

"Important road weekend for the Warriors," said head coach Tim Koth. "We play two very good teams who always seem to play their best against us. We will have to be ready, and look forward to the challenge."

Last week, Wayne State returned home for back-to-back matches against No. 16 Grand Valley State and new league member Roosevelt. In the match against GVSU, Wayne State led by two sets but ultimately lost after being outscored in subsequent sets. This marked their third consecutive loss to Grand Valley State since 2016. However, they bounced back with a straight-set victory over Roosevelt, achieving their second-best hitting percentage of the season.

Sophomore Kayla Dulgar from Warsaw, Ohio was named GLIAC Setter of the Week for her performance last week. She accumulated 88 assists across two matches, including a personal best of 57 assists in the five-set loss to Grand Valley State and another 31 assists in the win over Roosevelt.

The Warriors' offense has been driven by Kayla Giroux, Molly Miller, and Dulgar herself. Giroux leads both the GLIAC and ranks nationally for hitting percentage (.426), while Miller is among league leaders in kills (194). Defensively, Kendyl Andrews has contributed significantly with digs and blocks.

Purdue Northwest's team holds a record of 3-10 overall and is coached by Sean Douglas in his third year. Key players include Arra Cottrell with kills and Olivia Brooke leading in assists and service aces.

Parkside currently stands at a balanced record of 7-7 overall under head coach Leigh Barea. Notable players include Sam Fisch leading in kills and Karlee Lois providing assists.

Both Purdue Northwest and Parkside present formidable challenges as Wayne State aims to improve its standing within the league.