Volleyball Program Adds Pair of Freshmen for 2024 Season - Wayne State University Athletics (2024)

Volleyball 7/9/2024 1:00:00 PM Cooper Weidenthaler, Sports Communications Specialist

With four newcomers, the Warriors' roster is up to 17 student-athletes.

DETROIT -- Head coach Tim Koth and the Wayne State University volleyball program have announced the signing of two more newcomers joining the roster for the upcoming 2024 season. They are a pair of freshmen in No. 3 Saige Martin (Westphalia, Mich. / Pewamo-Westphalia) and No. 13 Nicole Dupre (Lake Mary, Fla. / Seminole). Those two join No. 1 Kayla Ison (mid-year transfer from Eastern New Mexico) and another rookie, No. 16 Kyleigh Weck as new faces in the fall.

"Adding both Saige and Nicole to our 2024 roster will really help us to take a big step forward," said Koth. "They are both physical additions to our front court and could create some real problems for opponents. Off the court, they are both good students from wonderful families that we are really looking forward to having be a part of ours. I can't wait to work with both of them."

Saige Martin, 5-11, OH/MB, Westphalia, Mich. / Pewamo-Westphalia
High School: A 2024 graduate of Pewamo-Westphalia High School ... was a four-year letterwinner for coachJon Thelen ... helped the Pirates to three Central Michigan Athletic Conference (CMAC) titles, three district championships, three regional titles and the 2022 MHSAA Division 3 state title ... totaled 476 kills, 146 blocks, 81 service aces and a .526 hitting percentage as a senior ... was a three-time All-CMAC selection ... earned All-Area accolades three times, and was named to the MIVA All-Region Team twice ... twice named First Team All-State as well as the Lansing State Journal Dream Team ... served as a team captain as a senior ... had a team-high 13 kills in the 2022 state championship match win over Kalamazoo Christian ... hit .360 (13-4-25), with 12 digs, three blocks (1 solo, 2 assisted), and a service ace in the four-set win ... registered six service aces in the three-set semifinal win over Cass City ...selected to the MIVCA Academic All-State Team ... also competed in track and field for PWHS her first three years of high school ... competed at the 2021 MHSAA Division 3 state track meet as a member of both the 4x100m relay (finished fourth) and the 4x400m relay ... placed second in the 100m hurdles and third in the 300m hurdles as a freshman with season-best times of 15.49 and 47.16, respectively ... ran the anchor leg on the fourth place 4x400m relay at the 2022 MHSAA state track meet ... won both the 100m hurdles (season-best time of 15.23) and 300m hurdles (personal-best time of 46.24) as a sophom*ore ... played club ball for Michigan Elite and coaches Vince Muscat and Erin Craggs.

Personal: Full name -- SaigeA. Martin ... born on November 9, 2005, in Lansing, Mich. ... daughter of John and Tammy Martin ... has an older brother, John, and four sisters, Amelia, Eve, Briella and Onalee ... plans to major in Psychology.

Coach Koth on Martin: "Very pleased that we were able to have Saige come to us from Michigan Elite VBC. She is a very versatile player and has predominantly been a middle prior to this year, but I project her to play on the outside at this level. She is very explosive off the floor and very competitive. She is going to be a great Warrior!"

Nicole Dupre, 6-3, MB, Lake Mary, Fla. / Seminole
High School: A 2024 graduate of Seminole High School in Sanford, Fla. ... was a three-year varsity letterwinner for the Fighting Seminoles ... finished senior season with 168 kills in 116 sets, while hitting .299 ... totaled 102 blocks, including 60 solo ... earned First Team All-Conference honors ... served as a team captain as a senior.

Personal: Full name --Nicole A. Dupre ... born on June 1, 2005, inLake Mary, Fla. ... daughter of Robby Dupre and Kristi Dupre ... has two younger brothers, Ayden and Jaxon, and three younger sisters, Kailynn, Reese, and Jaci ... plans to major in Nursing.

Coach Koth on Dupre: "Nicole is a big presence in the middle both offensively and defensively. She is also very competitive and has the chance to take control at the net. Adding her to our middle group is going to be very impactful. I love her bright energetic personality - it is contagious! She will be fun to work with."

Koth, his coaching staff and the Warriors will open their fall 2024 slate with three matches in two days as part of the Warrior Invitational on Sept. 6-7. Other teams competing in the Matthaei that weekend include Frostburg State, Northwood and Ohio Dominican.