Nov. 8, 2008

Stats

HILLSDALE, Mich. - The Wayne State volleyball team (16-11, 9-7 GLIAC) won its fourth straight match Saturday at Hillsdale (19-10, 8-8 GLIAC), 3-1, and secured home-court advantage for the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament.

The teams split the first two sets before WSU won the next two, ensuring the Warriors and Chargers will meet again Wednesday at the Matthaei in the opening round of the conference tournament.

Sarha Gosselin (Harrison Twp., Mich./Warren Lincoln) led Wayne State with 18 kills, and Candis Jenich (Warren, Mich./Cousino) posted a double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs. Kim Gear (Benton Harbor, Mich./Watervliet) finished with nine kills and five blocks, as well as a team-best .471 hitting percentage.

The nation's top blocker entering this weekend, Lauren Mallast (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) added nine blocks to her total while also contributing nine kills.

Wayne State led by as many as six in the opening set, but Hillsdale came back to take a 19-18 lead. The Warriors won seven of the last 11 points, however, to lock up a 25-23 victory.

A 25-22 result in favor of Hillsdale tied the score at one set apiece. The Chargers jumped out to a 7-4 lead in the third set until the Warriors went on a six point run and held off the home team the rest of the way to a 25-17 triumph.

The Warriors led throughout the fourth set, winning 25-18 to take the match.

Mayssa Bazzi (Dearborn, Mich.) guided the defensive effort with 23 digs, two shy of her season-high, and Katy Westenberg (Milford, Mich.) finished with 46 assists and six blocks.

NOTES
Wayne State's nine conference victories are the most since the 1999 squad posted a 12-7 GLIAC record ... Mallast has 156 blocks this season, sixth-most in school history ... Westenberg moved into sixth on WSU's all-time assists list (1,798) ... with 1,079 career digs, Bazzi ranks seventh all-time at Wayne State.