Dec. 13, 2024

Ferris State volleyball team’s season ends after falling to Bently in NCAA D2 National Quarterfinals

Ferris State volleyball historic season comes to an end — Ferris State volleyball players Kaylee Maat (left) and Syann Fairfield (right) go up for a block during the Bulldogs' match on Sept 13 against Bentley in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.

One of the most historic seasons in Ferris State University women's volleyball history ended on Thursday as the top-seeded and previously unbeaten Bulldogs fell in a thrilling 3-2 decision to Bentley University in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals at the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

The eighth-seeded opponents won the opening set 25-23 to grab the initial lead over Ferris State, which entered the match with an unblemished 34-0 mark this season.

Ferris State responded with a 25-16 win in the second set and then jumped out to a big advantage in set three before Bentley rallied for a 25-22 win, taking a 2-1 edge in the match.

The Bulldogs battled back and won set four in decisive fashion by a 25-12 count, forcing the fifth and deciding frame in the national quarterfinals.

In the fifth set, the Bulldogs again led early, but Bentley answered back and pulled out a 15-13 triumph to move into the D2 National Semifinals.

This year marked only the Bulldogs' fifth trip past the regional final in school history and first since 2013. Ferris State closed the year with a 34-1 overall record and also won the GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships this year.

Senior standout Olivia Henneman-Dallape, a Nursing major from Oregon, Ohio, led the Bulldogs with a team-high 19 kills in the match while adding 11 digs. Senior Claire Nowicki, a Radiography major from Clarkston, added 11 kills and 11 digs while middle hitter Chelsie Freeman, a Psychology major, notched 10 digs in the contest.

The Bulldogs got a team-best 24 digs from senior libero Leah Bylut, an Actuarial Science major, along with 16 by senior setter Kaylee Maat, an Elementary Education major from Hudsonville, who added 42 assists. Criminal Justice major Emma Bleecher chipped in with 10 digs while Corrie Wisser had three service aces.

Ferris State posted a .261 attack percentage overall and the Bulldogs netted 88 digs with 12 block assists, 12 service aces and a solo block.

On the opposite side, Bentley was limited to a .166 attack figure with 69 digs, 10 block assists, eight aces and a single solo block.

Bentley will advance to face Lynn University in the national semifinals on Friday night.

The Bulldogs' 34-1 overall record this year included six postseason wins in capturing the GLIAC and NCAA D2 Midwest Regional Championships. Ferris State dropped only 15 total sets over the course of the campaign.