Bulldog Volleyball Falls On The Road To Saginaw Valley State

The Ferris State University women's volleyball team dug itself into a hole the Bulldogs were never able to get out of this Friday (Oct. 30) night in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) match play with a 3-1 (21-25, 20-25, 25-19, 20-25) loss to Saginaw Valley State at SVSU's Cardinal Gymnasium in University Center, Mich.

With the setback, Ferris State drops to 17-9 overall and is currently 8-5 in the GLIAC's North Division.  The Bulldogs, who are in contention for the conference's division title, have three regular-season league matches remaining on their 2009 schedule.  

Saginaw Valley State quickly put the Bulldogs at a disadvantage by winning the opening two sets - 25-21 and 25-20.  Both teams hit for a .108 attack percentage in the first set before the Cardinals would registered a .219 hitting clip in set two while the Bulldogs were held to an even .000 hitting percentage.

The third set went in favor of Ferris State as the visitors recorded a .267 attack percentage to SVSU's .143 success rate.  The set featured eight ties and three lead changes.  FSU would post a 9-4 scoring run to snap an 11-all tie and take a 20-15 lead.  The Cardinals would get within three points at 21-18, but the Bulldogs would score two unanswered points to go up 23-18.  A kill apiece by senior middle hitter Sarah Lark (Alma) and junior middle hitter Arielle Goodson (Grand Rapids/Central) closed out the scoring.

Saginaw Valley State would extinguish any hopes of a Ferris State comeback as the Cardinals hit for an impressive .593 efficiency in the fourth set while the Bulldogs produced a notable .312 attack proficiency.  The set was close at the outset and remained that way as SVSU held no more than a five-point lead throughout the frame.  FSU would draw to within four points (24-20) in the final stages of the set before a Jessica Treiber kill sealed the set and match for the host team.

Arielle Goodson's 13 kills and .357 attack percentage was one of the lone brights spots in the Bulldogs' offense.  Sarah Lark supplied nine kills while senior middle hitter Kristy Gilchrist (Macomb/Anchor Bay) hammered seven and redshirt freshman outside hitter Aly Brecht (Alma) contributed seven kills.  Redshirt frosh setter Samanatha Fordyce (DeWitt) garnered 37 assists in directing the FSU offense.

Sophomore libero Lisa Tobiczyk (Marysville) controlled the FSU defense with 14 digs and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) dug up nine as the Bulldogs collected 44 team digs.

Arielle Goodson helped Ferris State at the net with six total blocks, which included three solos.  Sarah Lark added four block assists and Kristy Gilchrist provided a trio of block assists for the match as the Bulldogs would claim a 9.0 to 6.0 lead in team blocking.

Saginaw Valley State featured four individuals with double-figure kills totals led by Allison Schlinkert and Jessica Treiber with 15 and 14 kills, respectively.  

The Bulldogs will attempt to snap their three-match losing skid this Saturday (Oct. 31) with a Halloween match versus the Lake Superior State Lakers in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.  The first serve is set for 2 p.m. (EDT) at LSSU's Bud Cooper Gymnasium.