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.
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