Nov. 15, 2008

BAY CITY, Mich. - Wayne State University senior Mayssa Bazzi (Dearborn, Mich.), one of four Warriors to earn All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors, was named the 2008 GLIAC Libero of the Year, the conference office announced Saturday afternoon.

Junior outside hitter Sarha Gosselin (Harrison Twp., Mich./Warren Lincoln) was named to the All-GLIAC First Team, while Bazzi and junior middle blocker Lauren Mallast (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) earned Second Team recognition. Senior middle blocker Kim Gear (Benton Harbor, Mich./Watervliet) garnered Honorable Mention accolades for the second straight season.

Bazzi, the second Warrior named Libero of the Year after Sei Hee Hwang won the award in 2004, has 465 digs on the year, eighth-most in Wayne State history. Her 4.27 digs/set average ranks third in the conference and tied for fifth all-time at WSU.

In just two years as a Warrior, Bazzi has become one of the most prolific defensive players in school history, having accumulated 1,121 digs in her career, which ranks sixth. The school record holder with 656 digs last season, Bazzi's 5.75 career digs average is the highest in the 34 years of Wayne State volleyball.

Gosselin leads the GLIAC with a 3.68 kills/set average, as she has totaled 401 kills on the season. She also leads WSU with 35 service aces and ranks second to Bazzi with 259 digs. Gosselin had 11 double-doubles this year and reached the 20-kill mark five times.

Mallast, who entered this weekend's conference tournament as the nation's top blocker, has 163 total blocks for an average of 1.51 per set. The two single-season totals rank sixth and fourth, respectively, in school history. Mallast also has 304 kills, second on the team to Gosselin, and a .268 hitting percentage, second to Gear.

The top active player in career kills, hitting percentage, and blocks, Gear totaled 235 kills this season and led the Warriors with a .282 hitting percentage. She was the second-leading blocker on the team (98) and will finish her career among the top 20 blockers in school history.

Wayne State, awaiting the NCAA Regional selections on Sunday, has a 17-12 overall record and advanced to the semifinals of the GLIAC Tournament for the first time since 1997.