Ferris State Volleyball Sweeps Ashland To Reach GLIAC Tourney Semifinals

Postgame Highlights & Interview

Big Rapids, Mich. – The nationally-ranked Ferris State University women's volleyball team dispatched the Ashland Eagles 3-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament Quarterfinals to advance to championship weekend for the fifth consecutive year on Wednesday (Nov. 15) night at the Ewigleben Sports Arena.

With the win, the top-seeded Bulldogs will host the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals and finals in Big Rapids on Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 18-19).

In the win over the Eagles, Ferris State sophomore outside hitter Allyson Cappel finished as the match-leader in kills with 14 overall, hitting for a .407 attack percentage, while redshirt sophomore outside hitter Courtney Brewer followed closely behind with 13 kills as Ferris State won in straight-sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-20).

Ashland came out firing in the opening set, but the Bulldogs rallied and hit for a .417 attack percentage and charged back ahead to cruise to a 25-16 win. Ferris State controlled the second set, committing only three errors and hitting .389, while Ashland struggled and hit only .125 in the middle frame.

Despite falling behind 21-14 in the third set, the Eagles clawed within striking distance and cut the lead to 24-20. However, Ferris State senior middle hitter Ayanna Buckley finished off the Eagles with a big kill to clinch the win.

Buckley finished with 10 kills along with six total blocks and the senior was honored following the match for earning her 1,000th career kill in a Ferris State uniform.

Redshirt freshman setter Maeve Grimes added four kills to her match-best 42 assists while Ashland combined for 29 assists as a team.

Defensively, senior libero Lauren Reminga led Ferris State with 18 digs while Cappel finished with 16 in double-digits.

The Eagles were led by Reanne Neal's 10 kills as the junior middle blocker hit for a team-best .364 for the evening.

Overall, Ferris State totaled 50 kills to go with 56 digs, 10 blocks and three aces. Ashland netted 34 kills, 41 digs, three blocks and an ace.

Ferris State improved to 21-7 on the season and advanced to the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals while Ashland closed the year at 14-15 overall.

The Bulldogs will play in the first semifinal match on Saturday (Nov. 18) against fifth-seeded Wayne State at 3 p.m. (ET) with the second semifinal between second-seeded Northern Michigan and third-seeded Michigan Tech starting at 5:30 p.m. (ET). The title match is Sunday (Nov. 19) beginning at 3 p.m. (ET) inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena.