Three Ferris State Volleyball Standouts Earn AVCA All-Region Recognition

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Big Rapids, Mich. - Three members of the Ferris State University women's volleyball squad were recently recognized as 2018 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Midwest Region selections as announced by the national organization.

Junior outside hitter Allyson Cappel (Tinley Park, Ill./Lincoln-Way North) and sophomore hitter Katie O'Connell (Evergreen Park, Ill./Chicago Mother McAuley) both garnered all-region first team recognition with junior setter Maeve Grimes (Westchester, Ill./Nazareth Academy) tabbed to the honorable mention all-region list.

This year marked the third consecutive year in which Cappel has been named to the region's team while both O'Connell and Grimes earned regional accolades for the first time in their careers.

Cappel was chosen as the GLIAC Player of the Year for the second-straight season after guiding FSU to the program's fifth-straight league regular-season championship. A two-time All-American, Cappel tallied a team-leading 417 kills along with 408 digs, 50 blocks and 23 aces as FSU's most versatile weapon. The three-time all-league honoree helped guide FSU to a 27-5 overall record and the Bulldogs went a perfect 16-0 in the GLIAC, which represented their first unblemished mark in league action since 1990. Cappel posted 28 double-figure efforts in kills this season and tallied 10 digs or more in 25 outings this season.

Meanwhile, O'Connell received All-GLIAC laurels this year in her second season with the Bulldogs. She appeared in all 32 contests and totaled 368 kills while hitting an impressive .247 overall. O'Connell produced 420 digs and notched 52 total blocks with 16 service aces as one of the league's top all-around performers.

Finally, Grimes directed the FSU attack and concluded the year with 1,321 assists to go with 280 digs, 82 kills and 30 service aces. The All-GLIAC honoree averaged 10.92 assists per set and started all 32 contests in leading FSU to another championship campaign.

This year, Ferris State made its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid and has now advanced to at least the regional semifinals each of the last eight years. FSU's regional appearance represented the program's 23rd all-time.

The Bulldogs finished the regular-season as GLIAC Champions for the fifth-straight year with a perfect 16-0 league mark. It was the eighth-straight year in which FSU finished either first or second in the conference.

Along with winning this year's GLIAC regular-season crown, Ferris State also captured the 2018 GLIAC Tournament Championship for the fifth consecutive year as FSU topped Davenport to earn the program's sixth tourney title in school history while becoming the first squad in league history to capture five-straight crowns.