FSU's Gilchrist and WSU's Mallast Chosen As GLIAC Volleyball North and South Division "Players of the Week", Respectively

Click here for printer-friendly (PDF) version of release

BAY CITY, Mich. - Ferris State University senior middle hitter Kristy Gilchrist (Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay) and Wayne State University senior middle hitter Lauren Mallast (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay) have been chosen as the GLIAC Volleyball North and South Division "Players of the Week", respectively it was announced by the league office.

GLIAC North Division Player of the Week:
Kristy Gilchrist - Ferris State
Sr./MH
Macomb, Mich./Anchor Bay

Senior middle hitter Kristy Gilchrist (Macomb/Anchor Bay) generated a .337 hitting percentage in the four-match St. Cloud State Tournament with 41 kills on 92 attempts. Gilchrist recorded 13 block assists, 20 digs, and five services aces in helping the Bulldogs notch a 3-1 tourney mark. Gilchrist hammered a season and team match-high 14 kills and hit for a season-best .560 attack percentage in the upset win over nationally fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney at the St. Cloud State Tournament.

North Division Weekly Honor Roll: Allison Schlinkert - SV; Mandie Meyer - NMU; Jessica Ewer - LSSU; Kristine Sexton - MTU; Rebeccah Rapin - GV

2009 North Division "Players of the Week": (8/31) Mandie Meyer- NM; (9/07) Kristy Gilchrist - FS.

GLIAC South Division Player of the Week:
Lauren Mallast - Wayne State
Sr./MH
Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay

Lauren Mallast, who was named to the TownePlace Suites Classic All-Tournament Team, led Wayne State at the net with a .308 hitting percentage and 28 blocks, an average of 1.87 per set. Her most notable performances came Saturday, beginning with a 14-kill, 10-block outing against Saint Joseph’s (Ind.), marking her third career double-digit blocking output. She followed that with a career-high with 19 kills along with a .429 hitting percentage and three service aces in WSU’s 3-2 victory over Missouri-St. Louis in the weekend finale. Mallast totaled 51 kills in WSU’s four victories.

South Division Weekly Honor Roll: Jolyn Timms - NU; Erin Thomasson -UF; Clara Leutheuser - HC

2009 South Division "Players of the Week": (8/31) Ashlee Crowder - HC; (9/07) Lauren Mallast - WS.

-----GLIAC Volleyball Weekly Notes-----

Ashland Eagles (4-4, 0-0 GLIAC)

The Ashland Eagles traveled to the Raider Classic at Shippensburg this past weekend in attempt to even their season back up. The Eagles started off against Clarion and took the first two sets but dropped the next three to lose the match. It would be the only match Ashland would lose on the weekend. They came back later that day to beat Slippery Rock, 3-0. On Saturday (Sept. 5), AU took on IUP in its first match and lost the first two sets, but this time came back to win the next three to win the match. They finished off the Raider Classic by defeating Wheeling Jesuit, 3-0. The 3-1 run on the weekend brought the Eagles record up to 4-4. Ashland opens up its GLIAC schedule this Friday (Sept. 11) against Findlay, and then host Hillsdale on Saturday (Sept. 12) at 1 p.m.

Ferris State Bulldogs (6-3, 0-0 GLIAC)

Senior middle hitter Kristy Gilchrist (Macomb/Anchor Bay) generated a .337 hitting percentage in the four-match St. Cloud State Tournament with 41 kills on 92 attempts. Gilchrist recorded 13 block assists, 20 digs, and five services aces in helping the Bulldogs notch a 3-1 tourney mark. Sophomore libero Lisa Tobiczyk (Marysville) has compiled double-figure dig totals in all nine of the Bulldogs’ matches this season to date. Ferris State claimed a 3-1 non-conference victory over nationally fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney last Friday (9/4) at the St. Cloud State Tournament . Prior to that upset, the last time FSU bested a nationally-ranked top 10 opponent was in the 2007 season (10/12) when the Bulldogs recorded a 3-2 conference home decision against Hillsdale. Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) was selected to the seven-member 2009 St. Cloud State All-Tournament Team.

Findlay Oilers (2-5, 0-0 GLIAC)

The University of Findlay volleyball team split a pair of matches at home on Friday, September 4 as they defeated the University of Missouri St. Louis 3-0 and lost 3-1 to Saint Joseph’s College. The team split also split a pair of matches on Saturday, September 5 in Croy Gymnasium. The Oilers defeated the University of Minnesota – Crookston 3-1 (10-25, 25-11, 25-14, 25-22) and lost 3-2 (14-25, 25-27, 28-26, 25-17, 10-15) to the University of Southern Indiana to run their record to 2-5 on the season. In the first match against Saint Joseph’s, junior Abby LaVigne tallied 15 kills and eight digs to lead the team while junior Courtney Niemeyer registered eight kills and three blocks. Against the loss to University of Southern Indiana, Erin Thomasson racked up 15 kills while LaVigne and Jenny Slone tallied 12 and 11 kills respectively. For the weekend Thomasson recorded 49 kills, averaging 3.06 per set. She also added 15 digs and 9 blocks which helped land her on the all-tournament team last weekend. Findlay travels to Tiffin for its GLIAC opener on Wednesday, September 9.

Grand Valley State Lakers (4-4, 0-0 GLIAC)

Grand Valley State went 1-3 over the weekend in Florida, competing at both the Florida Southern Classic and the Eckerd Classic. The Lakers defeated East Stroudsburg on Saturday afternoon, 3-0. Grand Valley State lost consecutive matches last weekend for the first time since Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2007. Junior Rebeccah Rapin (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel Catholic Central) led the Lakers in kills (31), hitting percentage (.301), and total blocks (14). She hit better than .350 in three of the four matches over the weekend. GVSU notched a season-high 14 service aces in the win over East Stroudsburg. The last time the Lakers had more aces was Sept. 8, 2007 against Kentucky Wesleyan, when Grand Valley State tallied 16 service aces. In the latest AVCA poll (Sept. 7), the Lakers are ranked #18. That snaps a streak of 26 straight weeks that GVSU was ranked in the top-10, dating back to Sept. 17, 2007. The Lakers open GLIAC play at home this weekend against Northwood and Wayne State.

Hillsdale Chargers (7-1, 0-0 GLIAC)

Entering GLIAC play this week, the Hillsdale College volleyball team is sporting a 7-1 record, its best start since the 2006 season. The Chargers went 3-1 at the University of Findlay tournament last week, posting sweeps of Southern Indiana and Minnesota-Crookston. The team’s lone loss came in a 3-1 decision to Missouri-St. Louis. Sophomore Clara Leutheuser set a career high in kills in back-to-back matches over the weekend, getting 17 vs. UMSL and 20 against St. Joseph’s. Freshman Lauren Grover also set a career-high with 12 kills against St. Joseph’s, and had a hitting percentage of .447 for the weekend. Junior Sydney Dow was named to the All-Tournament team at Findlay. Sophomore Ashlee Crowder had a streak of 16 straight matches with 10 or more kills snapped in the Chargers’ 3-0 win over Minnesota-Crookston. Crowder has never had a match with less than six kills. Hillsdale opens GLIAC play this weekend on the road, at Tiffin Friday and at Ashland Saturday.

Lake Superior State Lakers (0-8, 0-0 GLIAC)

Senior outside hitter Jessica Ewer (Amherstburg, Ont.) played setter and libero during past seasons, but is among the Lakers’ attack leaders in 2009. Ewer totaled a team-high 33 kills and had a .223 attack percentage during last weekend’s Findlay Tournament. Through eight matches, she is second on the team in kills with 45 and first in attack percentage at .191. She also leads in service reception percentage at .944 and is third in digs with 50. Senior middle hitter Sara Hess leads the Lakers in kills with 53. She had 28 kills at Findlay, while sophomore outside hitter Abby Shereda (Freesoil, Mich.) followed with 28. Sophomore libero Brittany Newberry (Iron Mountain, Mich.) is fourth in the GLIAC in average digs per game at 4.58.

Michigan Tech. Huskies (2-6, 0-0 GLIAC)

Michigan Tech will open GLIAC play at Lake Superior State Friday (Sept. 11) and follow up with a match the next day at Saginaw Valley State. The Huskies split a pair of matches over the weekend at the Sharks Classic in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Tech picked up wins over Palm Beach Atlantic and Barry. Tech was the only team to win a set over the weekend against No. 16 Nova Southeastern. Tech has played five-set matches in five of its eight matches this season.

Northern Michigan Wildcats (4-4, 0-0 GLIAC)

After the trek to the West Coast where the Wildcats went 1-3 they jump into conference play this week. Northern Michigan faces Saginaw Valley State (Sept. 11) and Lake Superior State (Sept. 12) on the road to open up GLIAC play. Mandie Meyer led the ‘Cats at the Triton Invitational with 44 kills while teammate Amy Andersen-Goldsworthy added 35 over the four matches. Meyer leads the ‘Cats with 109 kills on the season, Katt Garvick is second with 69 and then Andersen-Goldsworthy (54). Abby Lovell recorded 131 of the 153 assists in San Diego, she currently leads the team with 275. Emma Wolfe had 10 of the 32 block assists over the weekend and 14 total blocks, leading the ‘Cats with19 total blocks for the season. Cassie Osiecki leads the ‘Cats on the season with 115 digs as she had 63 in San Diego.

Northwood Timberwolves (2-6, 0-0 GLIAC)

The Northwood University volleyball team went 1-4 at the Midwestern State Invitational, losing to Central Oklahoma, Tarleton State and No. 4 Emporia State before earning a 3-0 victory over Midwestern State. The Timberwolves are now 2-6 overall on the season. Sladjana Mitrovic (Lazarevac, Serbia/Sport Academy DIF) was named to her second straight all-tournament team at the conclusion of the event . She led Northwood in kills for the week with 3.4 per set. Junior Jolyn Timms (Adrian, Mich.) had a strong week for the Timberwolves as well, averaging 3.31 kills per set while hitting .310. She turned in the best performance of her career against Midwestern State, finishing with 16 kills and just one error on 25 attempts (.600 attack percentage). Northwood will open conference play this week with a pair of road matches, taking on Grand Valley State and Ferris State.

Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (5-3, 0-0 GLIAC)

The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team split four matches at the UC San Diego Triton Invitational (9/4-5). The Cardinals dropped a 3-0 decision to #4 UC San Diego before defeating Cal State Dominguez Hills (3-0) on the opening day of play. Senior Kait Harris led the way with 37 assists for the two matches while sophomore Annie Buxton added 14 kills and 21 digs. Sophomore Katie Fitzgerald contributed 10 kills versus the West Coast opponents.The Cardinals ended the weekend with a split in the final day of matches. SVSU fell to #2 Cal State San Bernardino (3-0) before rounding-out the tournament with a five-set victory over then #21 Cal State Los Angeles. In the victory over Cal State Los Angeles, Allison Schlinkert tallied 19 kills and Fitzgerald added 17. Harris recorded 53 assists in the five-set affair versus L.A. Saginaw will host Northern Michigan University on September 11 and Michigan Technological University on Saturday (9/12).

Tiffin Dragons (1-7, 0-0-0 GLIAC)

Tiffin University went 0-4last weekend. Against Urbana Brooke Bernabei had 21 kills, while Brittany Teaford had 11 kills and Margaret Betz 10 kills. Jess Adams totaled 35 assists in the match. Brooke Bernabei led the Dragons against Gannon with 9 kills while Brittany Teaford added 6 kills. Jess Adams dished out 19 assists vs Gannon. Margaret Betz had totaled 14 kills while Brooke Bernabei had a combined 13 kills and 16 digs against Parkside and Mercyhurst. Jess Adams added 42 assists and Brittany Teaford had 7 blocks in the two matches. Bernabei leads the Dragons offensively with 3.33 kills per game while Jess Adams has 7.47 assists per game. Brittany Teaford leads in blocks with 1.17 per game.

Wayne State Warriors (8-0, 0-0 GLIAC)

Wayne State improved to 8-0 on the year after winning all four matches at Findlay’s TownePlace Suites Classic WSU is the only undefeated team in the GLIAC and has dropped just three sets. Sarha Gosselin (Harrison Twp., Mich./Warren Lincoln) was named the weekend’s Most Valuable Player after leading the Warriors with 56 kills and five service aces while totaling 31 digs and seven blocks. Lauren Mallast (Chesterfield, Mich./Anchor Bay), who was named to the all-tournament team, led WSU with a .308 hitting percentage and 28 blocks, an average of 1.87 per set . Candis Jenich (Warren, Mich./Cousino) also had a strong weekend, posting two double-doubles and averaging 2.80 kills and 2.87 digs per set . Wayne State opens GLIAC play with a five-match road trip beginning this weekend at Ferris State on Friday and Grand Valley State on Saturday.