Aug. 17, 2005

BAY CITY, Mich. - The head volleyball coaches of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) picked Wayne State to finish fourth in the South Division. The coaches also chose Grand Valley State to win the league's North Division, and the University of Findlay to take the South Division in preseason balloting.

The Warriors have five players back who have totaled 1025 career games in the Green & Gold including senior middle blocker Elisa Joris who starts her second season in Detroit. A Second Team All-Great Lakes Region selection, Joris led the GLIAC in blocks and was fourth in the country with 1.73 per game. Also back for her senior season is outside hitter Megan Smolen who is on pace to finish her career in the top five in kills, attempts, aces and digs at WSU.

With the recruiting class, Gilbert added power and height in the off-season with a trio of big-hitting transfers Jordan Peek (6-4, RS-SO), Kristen Buter (5-11, OH) and Nicole Jackson (6-0, JR) along with redshirt sophomore Karri Kuczajda (5-10, OH) who had to sit out last season after transferring. Also returning are seniors Kerri Royer (6-0, S) and Kelita Sinclair (5-11, MB) as well as junior Kristi Pieper (5-8, OH).

Grand Valley State, the 2004 GLIAC North Division champion, received 31 points and three of the six first-place votes it was eligible for. The Lakers narrowly edged out Northwood University, which garnered 30 points and three first-place votes. Northern Michigan University placed third in the division with 27 points and one first-place nod. Ferris State University finished fourth with 26 points.

Michigan Tech University placed fifth in the division with 14 points, followed by Lake Superior State University (11 points) and Saginaw Valley State University (8).

Findlay, after tying for second place in last season's South Division race, received 23 points and three first-place votes in the poll. The Oilers out distanced Ashland University by two points (23-21). The Eagles received two first-place nods.

Hillsdale College tallied 18 points and one first-place vote to finish third, followed by Wayne State University (12 points), Gannon University (10), and Mercyhurst College (6).

The GLIAC proved to be one of Division II's toughest conferences last season, sending six teams -- Ashland, Ferris State, Grand Valley State, Hillsdale, Northern Michigan, and Northwood -- to the NCAA II Great Lakes Region Tournament. Northern Michigan emerged as the regional champion, earning a trip to the "Elite Eight," Division II's national championship tournament.

Each of the GLIAC's 13 coaches voted for the division in which they play, but were not allowed to vote for their own team. The first-place team in the North Division ballot received six points, while the second-place team received five points, etc. The first-place team in the South Division received five points, while the second-place team received four points, etc.

The Warriors begin the season Sept. 2-3 at the Holiday Inn Classic in California, Pa.

NORTH DIVISION

Rank	School (FPV)	Points
1	Grand Valley (3)	31
2	Northwood (3)	30
3	Northern Michigan (1)	27
4	Ferris State	26
5	Michigan Tech	14
6	Lake Superior	11
7	Saginaw Valley	8

SOUTH DIVISION

Rank	School (FPV)	Points
1	Findlay (3)	23
2	Ashland (2)	21
3	Hillsdale (1)	18
4	Wayne State	12
5	Gannon	10
6	Mercyhurst	6