Northwest Wayne News

The Wayne State University volleyball team is set to play its first road matches in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) for the 2025 season. The Warriors, who currently hold an 8-1 overall record and are undefeated in conference play at 2-0, will face Davenport University on Friday evening and then travel to meet 12th-ranked Ferris State on Saturday afternoon.

Head coach Tim Koth addressed the upcoming challenges: "GLIAC road trips are always very challenging. We are playing two very good teams in very tough environments, but are looking forward to the challenge."

Senior libero Kendyl Andrews reached a significant milestone last weekend by becoming the newest member of Wayne State’s 1,000 digs club during a win over Lake Superior State. Andrews recorded 11 digs in that match, surpassing the threshold she needed for her career total. She now needs just 88 more digs to move into sole possession of tenth place on Wayne State's all-time career digs list.

Wayne State has achieved four consecutive straight-set victories, marking a streak not seen since the program’s 2009 season when it swept its first six opponents. The current team also has a chance to match that year’s strong start by reaching a 10-1 record this week. Additionally, this marks the first time since 2021 that Wayne State has begun GLIAC play with two straight wins.

In national rankings, Wayne State received increased recognition from coaches across Division II volleyball. The team earned 48 points in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, ranking them 29th nationally after steadily increasing their point totals each week since the preseason.

Davenport University enters Friday’s matchup with a 5-4 overall record and is also unbeaten in conference play at 2-0—their best start ever as a Division II program. Under second-year head coach Charley Andrews, Davenport ranks among national leaders in several statistical categories including attacks per set and assists per set. Key players include junior outside hitter Abby Alan and freshman setter Madison Berry, both of whom lead the GLIAC and rank highly nationwide in their respective roles.

Ferris State poses another test for Wayne State on Saturday. Led by long-tenured head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, Ferris State boasts top national rankings in digs per set and kills per set among other categories. Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Piazza leads offensively with notable numbers both within the conference and nationally.

Both matches represent important early-season tests for Wayne State as they seek to maintain their strong form against top competition within their conference.