#22 Ferris State Dominates Wayne State To Keep GLIAC Title Hopes Alive

Big Rapids, Mich. - The 22nd-ranked Ferris State University women's volleyball team left little doubt on Friday (Nov. 7) night as the Bulldogs rolled past visiting Wayne State in a 3-0 sweep to keep their Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Regular-Season Championship hopes alive.

Ferris State cruised to the decisive win by beating the Warriors 25-22, 25-15, 25-16 while improving to 19-5 overall and 16-1 in league play with one regular-season match remaining. The victory was FSU's sixth in a row overall and it also marked the Bulldogs' 12th-straight conference win this campaign.

With the win, the Bulldogs can now secure at least a share of the GLIAC title by beating Saginaw Valley State on Saturday (Nov. 8) in the regular-season finale at home. FSU and rival Grand Valley State entered the weekend tied with each other atop the league standings and the only loss for both teams was on the road against each other.

Ferris State rolled to the win despite hitting only .140 for the match. FSU had 29 kills and 17 errors on 86 total attacks in the outing.

However, FSU also limited Wayne State to a -.070 showing for the evening as the Warriors totaled 35 errors and only 28 kills on 100 attempts.

The Bulldogs were led by senior hitter Courtney Rehm's eight kills. She also had three solo blocks, two block assists, two digs and an ace in the contest after being honored prior to the match for becoming the 18th member of the school's 1,000 career kills club.

Along with Rehm, FSU received seven kills from junior Alexis Huntey along with six by junior middle hitter Caroline Heitzman. Sophomore setter Stephanie Sikorski finished with 22 assists for the Bulldogs.

Defensively, Sikorski also paced Ferris State with a match-high 12 digs. Junior outside hitter Megan Vander Meer chipped in with nine while junior libero Danielle Dowd totaled five in a balanced lineup.

For Wayne State, outside hitter Hannah Moore compiled a match-high 10 kills. She also added six digs for the Warriors, who fell to 9-15 overall and 6-11 in the GLIAC.

WSU received 11 digs from libero Madison Kielty and 18 assists by setter Brittany Guldan. Carlee Hunt added nine digs in the losing effort.

Ferris State totaled 29 digs with 11 blocks and four aces while finishing with five service errors. Senior middle Claire Grawburg had a solo block and three assists at the net to go with Rehm's performance while Heitzman had two assisted blocks and a solo effort. 

Meanwhile, Wayne State recorded 37 digs, eight blocks and an ace, but also had six service mistakes in the match. Mikayla Shell had four block assists to pace WSU at the net.

The victory was FSU's 18th-straight regular-season home win dating back to last year and FSU is now 31-5 overall at home over the past three seasons. A near capacity crowd of more than 500 fans were on hand again for Friday's tilt.

Overall, the match was tied only three times on the night and FSU never trailed in the contest. Ferris State worked 12 players into the match.

Ferris State will close the regular-season at home on Saturday against Saginaw Valley State with match time set for 5 p.m. (ET) inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena. The match is part of a tripleheader for FSU Athletics with the unbeaten Bulldog football team hosting Northern Michigan at noon followed by a men's basketball home exhibition game versus Calvin at 3:30 p.m. (ET) inside Wink Arena.

Saturday's contest will also represent FSU's annual Senior Day outing with the duo of Rehm and Grawburg slated to be recognized prior to their final regular-season home match.