Bulldogs' Eight-Match Win Streak Snapped In Battle Of GLIAC's Divisional Leaders

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball team had its eight-match winning streak snapped on Friday (Oct. 11) night as the Bulldogs dropped a 3-2 road decision to Ashland in a battle of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) divisional leaders in Ashland, Ohio.

The Bulldogs posted a 25-15 win in set one before the Eagles came back to win the second and third frames by scores of 25-23 and 25-22, respectively.  However, FSU rallied for a 25-18 win in set four, but the Eagles took a 15-11 triumph in the deciding set to capture the win.

Ferris State, ranked 20th in the nation, fell to 12-4 overall this campaign along with 7-1 in the GLIAC.  Meanwhile, the Eagles improved to 13-3 overall and also now own a 7-1 league mark.

The Bulldogs were paced by sophomore hitter Alexis Huntey with 16 kills while junior outside hitter Courtney Rehm totaled 13 kills and sophomore outside hitter Megan Vander Meer netted 11 kills.  FSU also received seven kills from middle hitter Caroline Heitzman.

Ferris State was limited to a .193 attack percentage for the night with 55 kills and 22 errors on 171 total attacks.  FSU finished with 84 digs, 10 blocks and five service aces, but also had nine service errors.

Senior libero Brandie Merren tallied 27 digs in leading the Bulldogs while Vander Meer recorded 19 digs, Rehm had 13 and freshman setter Stephanie Sikorski finished with 12 digs.  Sikorski also had 46 assists in the setback.

At the net, senior middle hitter Angi Kent posted four block assists with Huntey totaling three solo blocks and two assisted efforts.

FSU hit .255 or better in each of the first two sets, but did not hit over .167 in the last three sets of the match.

Ashland was led by Alli Cudworth's match-high 17 kills.  Both Samantha Zuber and Baley Bernthisel had 10 kills each with Shelly DeHenning posting 48 assists.  Marci Zegarac totaled 26 digs, Megan Rohlfs chipped in with 19 digs and Casey Clark finished with 17 digs.

Overall, AU hit only .093 with 53 kills and 36 errors on 182 total attempts.  The Eagles had 87 digs, 11 aces and 10 blocks to go with eight service errors.  Despite hitting only .093 for the match, Ashland hit .273 in the deciding frame.

Ferris State will try to get back on track on Saturday (Oct. 12) as the Bulldogs wrap up their two-match weekend swing by facing Lake Erie in a 5 p.m. (ET) league tilt at Painesville, Ohio.