2012 Ferris State Women's Volleyball Quick Facts

GENERAL
Location: Big Rapids, Michigan 49307
Founded: 1884
Enrollment: 14,560
Nickname: Bulldogs
Colors: Crimson and Gold
Facility (Capacity): Ewigleben Sports Arena (600)
Affiliation: NCAA Division II
Conference: Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)
President: Dr. David L. Eisler (Michigan, 1972)
Athletics Director: Perk Weisenburger (Central Michigan, 1979)
Office/E-Mail: (231) 591-2863/weisenj1@ferris.edu
Associate Athletics Director: Jon Coles (Valparaiso, 1999)
Office/E-Mail: (231) 250-4082/colesj@ferris.edu

Coordinator of Records and NCAA: Robin J. Carter
Office/E-Mail: (231) 591-2799/RobinCarter@ferris.edu
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Terry Nerbonne
Athletics Department Office/FAX: (231) 591-2860/591-2869

Head Athletic Trainer: Dave Lucey, ATC
    Office/E-Mail: (231) 250-7931/luceyd@ferris.edu
Assistant Athletic Trainer: Tim Glover, ATC
    Office/E-Mail: (231) 250-2990/glovert@ferris.edu
Assistant Athletic Trainer (Women's Volleyball): Kara Bremer
    Office/E-Mail: (517) 980-3803/KaraBremer@ferris.edu

Equipment Manager: Ben Mumah, E.M.,C.
    Office/E-Mail: (231) 250-2773/mumahb@ferris.edu
Ticket Manager: Linda Bomar
    Office/E-Mail: (231) 591-2888/bomarl@ferris.edu

ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
Athletics Communications Director (Women's Volleyball): Rob Bentley
Office/E-Mail: (231) 591-3821/bentleyr@ferris.edu
Athletics Communications Fax: (231) 591-3775
Mailing Address: 210 Sports Drive, Sports Complex 001, Big Rapids, MI. 49307-2741
Athletics Website: www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com

HISTORY
First Year of Volleyball: 1972
Overall All-Time Record: 835-465 (.642)
Conference All-Time Record: 371-190 (.661)
NCAA Tournament Appearances: 15 (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011
All-Time NCAA Postseason Record: 8-17 (.320)
Last NCAA Tourney Opponent: Indianapolis @ NCAA Midwest Regional in Hillsdale, Mich.
Result: Lost 3-0
Number Years In GLIAC Tourney/Last: 14/2011
Last GLIAC Tourney Opponent: Hillsdale
Result: Lost 3-0

COACHING STAFF
Head Coach: Tia Brandel-Wilhelm
    Alma Mater: Alma, 1990
    Year Entering At FSU: 17th
    Record at FSU (Years): 333-164 (.670)/16 yrs.
    Career Record (Years): 451-184 (.710)/19 yrs.
Record vs. the GLIAC (all matches): 214-109 (.663)
Office Phone/E-Mail: (231) 591-2871/brandelt@ferris.edu
Best time/day to reach Brandel-Wilhelm: M-F 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (ET)
Assistant Coach:
Jesse Ortiz (Sonoma State, 2004)
Year Entering At FSU: 2nd
Office/E-Mail: (231) 591-2871/ortizj@ferris.edu

TEAM INFORMATION
2011 Overall Record: 27-4
Conference Record/Finish: 18-1/1st - North Division
2011 Non-Conference Record: 9-3
2011 Record At Home/Conference: 15-1/9-0
2011 Record Away/Conference: 9-1/9-1
2011 Record on Neutral Courts: 3-2
Final 2011 Ranking (poll): 12th

Starters Returning/Lost: 4/2 + Libero
Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 11/3

Starters Returning:
Samantha Fordyce, S, 5-11, Sr. - 2011 All-GLIAC First Team, Daktronics All-Region Second Team
Anne Sutton, MH, 6-2, Sr., - 2011 All-GLIAC First Team, Daktronics All-Region Second Team, 2011 Capital One Academic All-America Third Team
Aly Brecht, OH, 5-10, Sr. - 2011 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention
Courtney Rehm, MH, 6-2, So., - 2011 GLIAC Freshman of the Year

Other Returning Letterwinners:
Kara Hess, OH, 5-11, Jr.
Brandi Merren, DS, 5-7, Jr.
Lindsey Miller, MH, 6-2, Sr.
Paige Wyers, S, 5-9, Sr.
Claire Grawburg, MH, 6-0, So.
Brianna Grover, OH, 5-9, Sr.
Angi Kent, MH, 6-2, Jr.
Caroline Heitzman, OH, 6-1, So.

Starters Lost:
Ashley Huntey, OH - 2011 AVCA All-America Third Team, 2011 All-GLIAC First Team, 2011 Daktronics & AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team, 2011 GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient, 2011 Capital One Academic All-District First Team
Lisa Tobiczyk, LIB - 2011 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, 2011 All-GLIAC First Team, 2011 Daktronics & AVCA All-Midwest Region First Team
Mallory Kopa, MH - Started 25 matches

Newcomers:
Megan Vander Meer, MH, 5-8, Fr.
Jenna Way, S, 5-6, Fr.
Paige Weaver, MH, 6-5, Fr.
Kate Pretty, OH, 6-0, Fr.
Hunter DePalma, OH, 6-0, Fr.
DeeDee Dowd, OH, 5-10, Fr.

2012 SEASON PREVIEW NOTES:

* The 2012 campaign will represent Ferris State's 40th season of intercollegiate women's volleyball. The program inaugural season was in 1973.

* Ferris State recorded its 14th consecutive winning season in 2011 with a 27-4 overall mark. The Bulldogs also made their 14th straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament appearance.

* Ferris State is ranked 14th nationally in the 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II National Top 25 Preseason Poll.

* Last season, the Bulldogs climbed to as high as 11th in the country, which represented the program's highest ranking in more than 20 years.

* Ferris State officially opens its 2012 season on Friday, Aug. 31, with a pair of non-conference matches at the Ferris State Invitational in Big Rapids. The Bulldogs host Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.) and Mercyhurst in their first two matches of the tournament. FSU then concludes tourney play on Saturday, Sept. 1, with contests against West Virginia State and Clarion (Pa.).

* FSU compiled a 27-4 overall record in 2011 and won the GLIAC North Division Championship while also reaching the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Semifinals. The Bulldogs finished as league co-champions after posting an 18-1 conference mark under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.

* Ferris State returns 11 letterwinners for the 2012 season, including a pair of All-GLIAC and all-region honorable mention selections in senior setter Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) and senior middle hitter Anne Sutton (Grand Rapids/Northview).