Aug. 25, 2004

DETROIT - The 2004 Wayne State University volleyball team has a fresh, aggressive attitude under the direction of first-year head coach Ernie Gilbert and has high expectations for its first winning season since 1998. The Warriors finished the 2003 season with a 9-16 overall record and placed fifth in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference South Division at 5-12. Last year, Wayne State played 10 five-game matches and when it came down to the fifth and deciding game, the Warriors went 2-8, including three losses in matches where they were leading 2-1. "I prefer that we control the ball and reduce our errors," said Gilbert. "We will block well and play relentless defense. We have offensive skill that will allow us to be difficult to prepare to play." OUTSIDE HITTER
Wayne State's top returnee is junior outside hitter Megan Smolen (Grosse Ile, Mich.), who was named to the 2003 All-GLIAC Second Team. Smolen was the Warriors' leading hitter for the second straight season with 354 total kills in 93 games. Her 3.77 kills per game ranked fifth among GLIAC hitters. She recorded a career-high 23 kills on four different occasions and had 15 double-doubles on the year as she averaged 3.41 digs per game. Along with Smolen, the remaining outside hitters are senior Darcie Amsdill (Dexter, Mich.), who returns from a year of rehab, along with Jeana Wiehl (Portage, Mich.) and Kristi Pieper (Roseville, Mich.). "Darcie is at a crossroads coming off so many injuries, but her competitive attitude keeps telling her to play, play, play. Jeana has great experience and is working hard on her consistency and wants to be a leader on this team," said Gilbert. "Kristi works hard to expand her role from a back role specialist to gaining playing time at outside hitter. She's well on her way to completing her goal, only consistency and confidence in her way."

We will block well and play relentless defense. First-year head coach Ernie Gilbert

RIGHT SIDE HITTER
Senior right side hitter Toni Purgatori (Yale, Mich.) was a great addition to the squad as a transfer last year. She was second in kills (230) and led the team in blocks with 72. Her energy and leadership will prove to be a key component to this year's success. "Toni is a consummate leader who always puts the team first before anything else," added Gilbert. MIDDLE BLOCKER
Elisa Joris (Walled Lake, Mich.) was a two-year letterwinner at Grand Valley State where she was a member of the 2002 NCAA semifinals and GLIAC championship team. Joris was selected to the GLIAC Honorable Mention squad and ranked second on the team and eighth in the conference in blocking at 1.05 per game. "E has been the most physical, driven and focused player in the gym this pre-season. If anyone in the GLIAC forgot about her level of play, she will refresh their memory quickly and emphatically." Returning middle blockers Kelita Sinclair (Caledon, Ont.) and Sofi Berczely (Buenos Aires, Argentina) have come into their own. According to the first-year head coach, "Sofi is a mature leader and is solid and flexible as far as position goes, while Kelita's athleticism is the best on the team, but has a few rough edges due to experience, but is a tireless worker and driven to improve." SETTER
A pair of transfers will be running the team from the setter position. Kerri Royer (Lawton, Mich.), a junior college transfer, was second in the nation with a 13.2 assist per game average. The 6-0 junior played one year at Division I Northern Illinois before returning to Michigan at Kalamazoo Valley C.C. in 2003. Meanwhile, another Michigan native, Leslie Coxon (Mason, Mich.) transferred from Minnesota State for her final year and will challenge for playing time at setter. "With two new setters, the tempo, complexity and tactics of the offense are different. Kerri and Leslie both have terrific experience and athleticism. I am very comfortable with the skill at the setter position," added Gilbert. LIBERO
Versatile Sei Hee Hwang (Toronto, Ont.) has moved around in her previous two seasons, but looks to be the mainstay at libero. Her defensive prowess and adaptability to the ball will be a good fit for the defensive position that is in its third year at the collegiate level. In Gilbert's 20 years of coaching, Hwang "might be as gifted as a defensive player as I've seen." SCHEDULE
The Warriors' season begins against No. 13-ranked Central Missouri State at the West Florida Comfort Inn-vitational on August 27. The schedule does not get any easier as two other GLIAC schools (Grand Valley and Northern Michigan) are ranked in the top 15. Gilbert expects nothing but the best against the competition from his team. "The tough schedule is important as a measuring stick to see where we are in relation to other teams that, for now, are where we intend to be in the near future. The GLIAC is as tough a conference as you can find."