Reigning Regional Champion Ferris State Currently Midst Volleyball Spring Slate

Note: The Bulldog Volleyball team is shown after being honored for reaching the NCAA-II Elight Eight at a recent home hockey contest this season before a sellout crowd at the Ewigleben Ice Arena.

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad, which reached the NCAA Division II Elite Eight after winning the Midwest Regional Championship last fall, is currently midst its spring schedule.

The Bulldogs' annual spring slate includes four competitive dates along with practice sessions. Per NCAA regulations, only the dates of the events can be publiczed and no results will be available.

Ferris State's first action of the spring took place this past week as FSU squared off against Central Michigan on March 25 and took part in a tournament at NCAA Division I Western Michigan on March 29.

FSU has two remaining spring dates as the Bulldogs will travel to the Dunes Operational Center in Indiana for a tournament this Saturday (April 5) before wrapping up its spring slate with a tournament at Division I Michigan State on April 12.

Ferris State closed a memorable 2013 campaign with a 25-9 overall record after nearly pulling off a major win over eventual national runner-up BYU-Hawaii in their first appearance deep on the national stage since the late 1980's. FSU, which made its 18th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance this past fall, claimed a regional crown to reach the Elite Eight and national quarterfinals for only the third time in school history and first since 1989.

This past year marked Ferris State's first regional championship since previously winning two back in 1987 and 1989. The Bulldogs reached at least the regional semifinals for the third year in a row and have now made the NCAA Tournament nine times under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, who led FSU to the Elite Eight for the first time in her tenure after notching her 500th career victory in an exciting 3-2 comeback win over archrival Grand Valley State in the Midwest Regional title match in Allendale.

The Bulldogs also placed tied for second this season in the GLIAC with a 15-3 overall record, reached the conference tournament for the 16th consecutive year and posted 20 wins or more for the 12th time in 18 seasons under Brandel-Wilhelm's direction.