Vollleyball Announces 2010 Recruiting Class

DETROIT - Wayne State University head volleyball coach Phil Nickel has announced that four prospective student-athletes have signed National Letters of Intent to enroll at WSU next fall and join the volleyball program.

“This change brings mixed emotions for me, personally,” said Nickel. “Sarha Gosselin, Candis Jenich, and Lauren Mallast were my first recruits at Wayne State, and it makes me sad to see them leaving already. But, I am extremely excited about this recruiting class.

“We accomplished everything we set out to achieve with this class. They are athletic, physical, and skilled and expect all four of them to come in and compete for playing time as freshmen. This group, along with our 2009 recruiting class, is going to have a huge influence on where our program goes in the next few years. I am very excited about the future of Wayne State volleyball.”

Middle hitter Nicole Arends, a native of Ravenna, 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. She also participated in basketball and track, and was on the honor roll at Ravenna.

A native of LaSalle, Ontario, outside hitter Kristen Bulkiewicz spent four years on the varsity volleyball team at Sandwich Secondary, where she was an all-star and MVP, and was named most dedicated. An 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. Bulkiewicz was elected team captain for volleyball and basketball.

Middle blocker Kris Vulaj is due to graduate this spring from Redford Union, where she played four years of volleyball and was a two-time all-conference selection for the Panthers. She served as team captain her senior year and was a 2008 scholar athlete. She also plays AAU volleyball, training with Instant Replay volleyball club for two years.

Amanda Wetherill is a middle blocker from Forest, Ohio, who lettered three years in volleyball at Riverdale, leading the 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 National Honor Society member was also a four-year letterwinner in softball as a first baseman and centerfielder, earning all-conference and all-district honors in 2009.

These four future Warriors will help offset the loss of a five-member senior class which includes Jessica Condeni, Gosselin, Jenich, Meg Leone, and Mallast.

Volleyball Adds 5 Newcomers for 2009

Wayne State University volleyball coach Phil Nickel signed five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent this past semester to enroll at WSU and join the volleyball team in the fall of 2009.

"I am very excited about this class. We will be better with the addition of these five young ladies," said Nickel. "All five are very talented players, and even more importantly, all five are great people. We look forward to getting them in our gym. Practices will be a lot more competitive and all five will compete for playing time as freshmen."

Cydney Biessel, a native of Ruby, played four years on the varsity volleyball team at Yale High School and consistently led the Bulldogs in sets, assists, aces, and service points. An Honorable Mention All-State selection this season, she was also named league MVP and all-region first team in 2007 and 2008 while leading the Bulldogs to three league titles as well as a district and regional championship in 2006. Biessel, who served as team captain for two years, set a new school record for sets in 2006.

Rochester Hills native Karlene Foisy is set to graduate from Rochester High School next spring. She was a two-year letterwinner for the Falcons, totaling 111 kills and averaging 1.1 blocks per set as a junior. The RHS team captain did not play in 2008, however, due to an injury.

Madie Kent, who was a three-sport athlete (volleyball, basketball, softball) at Grosse Pointe North, holds school volleyball records for kills in a match (37), season (636) and career (1,115). She finished her senior volleyball season with 636 kills and 457 digs, guiding North to a school-record 40 wins and the semifinals of the Class A state tournament. The Grosse Pointe Woods native was a Second Team All-State selection and First Team All-Region, All-District, and All-MAC. On the basketball court, she set the school single-season record for free-throw percentage and helped the Lady Norsemen win their first-ever Class A state championship her junior season.

Kate Sak played four years of varsity volleyball at Warren Cousino High School. A three-time all-county honoree and a 2008 all-region selection, Sak led the Patriots with 352 kills, 176 blocks and a .323 hitting percentage in 2008. She was also the team's statistical leader in 2007 and 2006, a two-time team MVP and three-time all-academic team selection.

A native of Westland, Lindsey Graciak was a two-year volleyball letterwinner at Livonia Churchill. She helped lead the team to a 49-4 record in 2008, a first place finish and a berth in the Class A Final Four. Graciak totaled 749 digs, an average of 5.7 per set which broke the school record. As a junior, she collected 579 digs (4.5 digs/set) as the Chargers also finished first. Graciak was an all-state, all-area, and all-conference selection both seasons in volleyball. She also excelled in basketball, earning all-conference honors as a point guard, and track and field, a two-time state qualifier. An honor roll student, she is due to graduate from Livonia Churchill in June.