Nov. 25, 2024

Undefeated Ferris State volleyball team sweeps GVSU to claim 10th GLIAC tournament title in last 11 years

The Ferris State University volleyball squad captured the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament Championship as the nation's top-ranked Bulldogs swept rival Grand Valley State University 3-0 in Sunday's title match before a capacity crowd at Bulldog Arena.

The Bulldogs battled back from an early deficit in the first set to win 25-18 and then closed their third win over the Lakers in as many tries this year by taking sets two and three by scores of 25-17 and 25-11.

With the win, Ferris State is now a nation-best 31-0 overall this year and is expected to host the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament, which takes place Dec. 5 through 7, as the top regional seed. The official NCAA D2 Selection Show airs on Monday, Nov. 25 starting at 7:30 p.m. at NCAA.com.

The Bulldogs put together another impressive performance in the win over the Lakers, who fell to 27-3 overall this year with all three setbacks coming to Ferris State, which hit .255 for the match, compiling 41 kills and only 16 attack errors on 98 attempts.

The GLIAC's top-seeded Bulldogs took out second-seeded Grand Valley State behind a match-high 14 kills from senior outside hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape, who earned the GLIAC Tournament Most Valuable Player Award. She was joined on the all-tournament team by fellow seniors Kaylee Maat and Claire Nowicki.

Along with Henneman-Dallape, the Bulldogs got nine kills from Nowicki and eight by freshman hitter Gabby Piazza. Maat notched 31 assists in the win while senior libero Leah Bylut led FSU defensively with 17 digs. Nowicki chipped in 10 digs while both Henneman-Dallape and Maat recorded nine digs apiece.

In the middle, the Bulldogs got five total blocks from senior middle hitter Chelsie Freeman in addition to three from senior middle hitter Syann Fairfield. Henneman-Dallape also added three blocks and Maat had two assisted blocks for the Bulldogs at the net.

Additionally, Emma Bleecher tallied a team-best three service aces for the Bulldogs in the triumph.

Overall, Ferris State finished the three-set match with 49 digs and nine total team blocks along with four aces. FSU held GVSU to a .039 attack showing with the Lakers recording 27 kills and 23 attack errors on 103 attempts. GVSU had 35 digs to go with seven blocks and no aces.

The Lakers were led by Kendall Stover with eight kills. Jordyn Gates chipped in 17 assists and Julia Blaney notched 11 digs.

Ferris State was making its 27th consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearance dating back to 1998 and FSU topped the Lakers in the tournament title match for the third-straight year. The Bulldogs have now claimed the postseason title each season since 2014 with the exception of the 2020 COVID season that was played in the spring of 2021.

As the league tournament champion, the Bulldogs also earned the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Tournament.