When Phil Nickel arrived at Wayne State to take over the volleyball program in March 2008, he set out to instill a winning attitude in his student-athletes. As Nickel enters his third season at the helm, it appears that attitude has taken effect.
“Even though we went 19-9 last year and went to the GLIAC Tournament for the second year in a row, there was a sense of disappointment that we didn’t do a little better, so I think that says a lot about the expectations within the program,” said Nickel.
The Warriors return seven letterwinners from a 2009 squad which recorded the highest win total since 1998 and the best winning percentage since 1997.
“We were really excited with the year we had,” said Nickel. “It’s a testament to where the program has come in the two years we’ve been here and the direction we’re heading.”
However, to get Wayne State back to the postseason in 2010, Nickel will have to do so with a roster comprised almost entirely of underclassmen, as 11 of his 14 student-athletes are either freshmen or sophomores.
Nickel is prepared to deal with some of the growing pains and inconsistencies common with young teams, but nonetheless likes the potential in his squad and feels that, “we have a lot of talent - probably the most depth in talent we’ve had in the two years I’ve been here.”
Maureen MacDonald (White Lake, Mich./Marian), one of three seniors on the team, will return to the outside hitter position after spending a year at the libero spot. The two-year captain played in every match last season and finished ninth in the GLIAC in digs per set (3.35).
“We expect a lot of leadership from Mo,” said Nickel. “She provides a lot of energy and emotion, and a great positive attitude all the time.”
Setter
Katy Westenberg (Milford, Mich.), who enters her senior season ranked sixth all-time at WSU in career assists (1,952) and assists per set (9.34), and middle blocker
Mariel VanOverbeke (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) make up the remainder of the veteran corps.
Critical to the success of the 2010 Warriors will be the play of their sophomore class.
Cydney Biessel (Ruby, Mich./Yale) came on the scene as the starting setter last year and totaled 1,015 assists, 13th-most in school history. She finished fifth in the conference in assists per set (9.58) while contributing 21 service aces, second-most on the team, as well as 170 digs, 51 kills and 45 blocks.
“Cydney did a great job last year. As a coaching staff we talked about how hard it was for her to come in as a freshman and take over the setting position when you had five seniors on the team. I think that’s asking a lot, but she did a great job.”
Biessel facilitated an offense which ranked second only to Hillsdale last season in hitting percentage. Factoring significantly into WSU’s front row proficiency in 2009 was
Katarzyna Sak (Warren, Mich./Cousino), Wayne State’s top returning net player who finished third in the GLIAC with a .305 hitting percentage, tied for 10th-best in school history. An All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection, Sak was one of only two freshmen to receive all-conference accolades in 2009.
“Kate had a tremendous spring. She’s really blossomed into a tremendous player,” said Nickel. “She’ll need to pick up some slack from a kills perspective of the seniors who graduated last year. We expect her to maintain a good hitting percentage and be an offensive leader on this team.”
After an impressive high school career,
Madie Kent (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Grosse Pointe North) will be looking to reach her full potential as she enters her second collegiate season. Kent ranked 18th in the GLIAC in blocks per set (0.64) and collected 64 kills as a freshman.
Lindsey Graciak (Westland, Mich./Livonia Churchill) is projected to be the starting libero in 2010. She totaled 103 digs in 74 sets last year and finished fourth on the team with 17 service aces.
Seven rookies round out this year’s roster, and many of these freshmen will fill the gaps left up front by last season’s senior class.
“I think they all have the potential to contribute right away,” said Nickel.
Middle hitter
Nicole Arends (Ravenna, Mich.) played three years on the varsity volleyball team and was a significant contributor on the state runner-up squad in 2009. She was a two-time first team all-conference and all-area selection, earned all-state honors twice, and served as team captain for two years.
Outside hitter
Kristen Bulkiewicz (LaSalle, Ont./Sandwich) was an all-star and MVP at Sandwich Secondary, and was named most dedicated. A 6-1 athlete with a diversified background, she also participated in basketball, track and field, and badminton, and was a silver medalist in both badminton and the high jump.
Jessica DeLeeuw (Harrison Twp., Mich./L’Anse Creuse) was an all-state selection her senior season and was named MVP of the Macomb Area Conference Red Division. The 5-7 setter and two-year team captain was a two-time all-region and a three-time all-city honoree.
Despite missing her senior season due to an injury,
Jen Finkbeiner (Saline, Mich./Saline) was a two-time all-conference and offensive player of the year selection. The 5-11 middle blocker led the 2008 squad in hitting and blocking as Saline went 45-15-2.
Ava Frakes (Dearborn, Mich.), a 5-7 defensive specialist, helped Dearborn win a district title and reach the regional finals in 2008 and 2009. She claimed all-city accolades as well as all-conference and all-region honorable mention.
Middle blocker
Kris Vulaj (Redford, Mich./Union) was a two-time all-conference selection for the Union Panthers. She served as team captain her senior year and was a 2008 scholar athlete. She also played AAU volleyball, training with Instant Replay volleyball club for two years.
Amanda Wetherill (Forest, Ohio/Riverdale) is a 6-1 middle blocker who led the Riverdale Falcons to consecutive first-place finishes in 2007 and 2008, and second place in 2009. She was a two-time all-conference honoree and a 2009 second team all-district selection, having set single-season school records in 2009 for aces and blocks, as well as the career aces record.
The Warriors will begin their 36th season of volleyball Sept. 3-4 at an invitational hosted by the University of Indianapolis.
Of Wayne State’s 17 scheduled opponents, nine qualified for the 2009 NCAA Tournament. The Warriors will be tested immediately, as they open with a match Sept. 3 against Indianapolis. The Greyhounds went 38-2 last year and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals, where they lost to the eventual undefeated national champion Concordia-St. Paul.
Wayne State will also meet Tusculum and Truman State, two NCAA regional qualifiers in 2009, as well as West Virginia State before opening its GLIAC schedule Sept. 7 at Hillsdale.
“It will be a really good test for us the very first weekend and hopefully will help prepare us for GLIAC play,” said Nickel.
The Warriors will play their first home matches at the Matthaei on Sept. 10 against Lake Erie, which is joining the GLIAC this season after transitioning from NCAA Division III, and Sept. 11 versus Ashland.
The schedule includes three Sunday matches, beginning with a Sept. 19 matchup at Ohio Dominican, another new GLIAC member in 2010 and formerly a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Panthers will come to Detroit on Sunday, Oct. 24. Wayne State’s other Sunday match is Sept. 26 as WSU hosts Grand Valley State.
The third annual GLIAC/GLVC Crossover will be held Oct. 15-16, at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Ill. Following the Crossover, five of WSU’s seven remaining matches will be played at the Matthaei, leading into the 2010 GLIAC Tournament beginning Thursday, Nov. 11.
With six GLIAC teams qualifying for the NCAA Regional tournament last year, Nickel feels that another strong season for his Warriors can put them in position for a postseason berth. Clearly the expectations are higher, but so is the potential for success.
