Ferris State's Allyson Cappel & Ayanna Buckley Both Garner All-Region First Team Honors

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Big Rapids, Mich. - A pair of Ferris State University women's volleyball players have garnered all-region honors as both sophomore outside hitter Allyson Cappel (Tinley Park, Ill.) and senior middle hitter Ayanna Buckley (Detroit) were chosen among the region's best on the eve of the NCAA Tournament.

Both Cappel and Buckley were named to the 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Midwest Region First Team while Cappel also received first-team recognition from the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) as chosen by the region's sports information directors.

As first-team all-region picks, both are now eligible to receive All-America honors from the respective organizations. They were among only five total players from the GLIAC named to the AVCA All-Region teams.

This season, both were also first-team All-GLIAC picks in helping the Bulldogs to both a fourth-straight GLIAC Regular Season Championship along with a fourth consecutive GLIAC Tournament title under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. Cappel was chosen as the GLIAC's Player and Attacker of the Year.

Presently, Cappel leads the Bulldogs with 358 total kills in 95 sets and has added 297 digs, 31 blocks, 19 aces and 12 assists while starting 27 matches.

Meanwhile, Buckley has played in 102 sets and 30 outings overall while compiling 290 kills, 93 blocks, 74 digs, 21 aces and six assists. She's also hitting .281 overall for the year.

FSU will open its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance this Thursday (Nov. 30) evening as the Bulldogs take on McKendree (Ill.) in the opening round of the big dance in Romeoville, Ill.

The Bulldogs will be the number four seed for the Midwest Regional Tournament that runs Thursday thru Saturday, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, on the campus of top-seeded Lewis University at Neil Carey Arena. Match time is set for 6 p.m. (ET) for the quarterfinal-round contest.

Ferris State will be making its seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and has advanced to at least the regional semifinals each of the last six years. FSU's upcoming regional appearance will represent the program's 22nd all-time as the Bulldogs have compiled a 17-22 overall record in NCAA Tournament competition.