Ferris State Volleyball Falls To Lewis In NCAA Regionals

The Ferris State University women's volleyball team had its 2009 season come to an end as the Bulldogs dropped a 3-0 decision to 11th nationally-ranked Lewis this Thursday (Nov. 19) afternoon in a NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament Quarterfinal-Round match at the University of Indianapolis' Ruth Lilly Fitness Center in Indianapolis, Ind.

The Bulldogs, who were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since the 2006 campaign, conclude the season at 19-12 overall.

Junior middle hitter Arielle Goodson (Grand Rapids/Central) led the Ferris State offensive attack with a match-high 14 kills while producing a team-leading .448 attack percentage.  Goodson extended her double-figure kills streak to 20 straight matches with her performance and totaled 25 such efforts for the season.  Senior middle hitter Kristy Gilchrist (Macomb/Anchor Bay) hammered eight kills in her final collegiate match for the Bulldogs, who recorded a .204 hitting percentage for the contest.

Redshirt freshman setter Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) racked up 31 assists to go with six digs and a pair of service aces.  Junior libero Whitney Rupp (West Bloomfield/Mercy) finished with a match-best tying 11 digs and sophomore outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) produced 10 digs in the match.

Ferris State dropped the opening set by a 25-20 score as Lewis led from start to finish which featured a 16-9 scoring run to begin the set.  The Bulldogs posted a .231 hitting percentage to the Flyers' .306 hitting clip.

In the second set, Lewis continued its effective hitting as the Flyers generated a .419 percentage while holding the Bulldogs to .194 efficiency en route to a 25-17 decision.  Ferris was able to get within two points (16-14) before Lewis pulled away by going on a 6-1 scoring spurt to claim a 22-16 advantage and proceeded to garner the victory.

Lewis would continue its productive hitting in set three as the Flyers recorded a .370 percentage while Ferris hit for a .182 clip.  Lewis also led from start to finish in the final set although the Bulldogs battled and sliced the Flyers' lead to just two points (20-18) at one point but were unable to get any closer.

Lewis (31-4 overall) was paced by Stephanie Sagat's 10 kills while Ashlee Lindish's 11 digs represented a tie for match-high honors.

The 2009 NCAA-II Regional marked the program's 15th all-time appearance in the national tournament.

Four seniors on the 2009 squad - Kristy Gilchrist, outside hitter Katie Edwards (Cedar Springs), middle hitter Sarah Lark (Alma), and outside hitter Amanda Kettlewell (Marsyville) made their final appearance at Ferris State in the season-ending match.