FSU

Nation's 12th-Ranked Bulldogs Cap Off Unbeaten Weekend With Two Big Saturday Victories

Highlights & Postgame:
FSU vs Gannon
FSU vs Seton Hill

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 12th-ranked Ferris State University women's volleyball squad capped off an unbeaten weekend of home action as the Bulldogs won a pair of big matches on Saturday (Sept. 7) in the final day of its own home invitational at the Ewigleben Sports Arena.

The Bulldogs rallied for a thrilling 3-2 triumph over the Gannon Knights in morning action before closing the day with a 3-0 sweep over previously unbeaten Seton Hill (Pa.) before near capacity home crowds in the annual Ferris State Invitational, which featured eight teams competing in 16 matches over a three-day span.

In the opening match against Gannon, the Bulldogs won the opening frame 25-22 before the Knights responded with a 25-22 triumph in the second set. The Bulldogs took set three 25-20 and Gannon answered with a 25-21 win in the fourth. The Knights then had the lead early in set five before the Bulldogs battled back to claim a 17-15 win.

Ferris State received a team-high 13 kills and 25 digs from senior outside hitter Allyson Cappel. Junior Katie O'Connell added 12 kills and 23 digs while senior Courtney Brewer totaled 10 kills and 13 digs in the win.

FSU also got 33 digs from senior libero Lauren Helsen along with 43 assists by senior setter Maeve Grimes, who also had nine digs.

Gannon totaled 58 kills to 54 for the Bulldogs and the Knights hit .166 to .143 for the Bulldogs, but FSU had an advantage at the service line. The Bulldogs totaled eight aces to four for Gannon and had nine service errors compared to 16 for the Knights. GU finished with 116 digs, 18 block assists and one solo block with FSU registering 112 digs, six block assists and three solo hits at the net.

The Knights were listed first among teams receiving votes in the 2019 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Preseason Top 25 poll.

In the evening matchup with Seton Hill, Ferris State rolled to a 25-14, 25-23 and 25-14 triumph versus a team that had started the tournament with a perfect 3-0 mark.

Cappel finished with 16 kills and eight digs in leading the Bulldogs while O'Connell contributed seven kills. Brewer finished with five kills and 11 digs, sophomore Samantha Hermann posted five kills and Helsen had 12 digs. Grimes compiled 29 assists and 10 digs in the victory.

The Bulldogs hit an impressive .327 against Seton Hill with 41 kills and only five errors on 110 total attempts. FSU also had 57 digs with seven team blocks and three aces.

Meanwhile, Seton Hill managed only a .100 hitting figure and had 35 kills with 23 attack errors on 120 attempts. They also finished with 56 digs and two aces with seven service errors.

Ferris State, which is 4-0 on the year, will travel to Denver next weekend for the Colorado Premier Tournament, which features several of the country's top programs and traditionally ranks as one of the nation's highest profile events. FSU will face 24th-ranked West Florida on Friday at 4:30 p.m. (ET) before meeting fifth-ranked Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) at 8 p.m. (ET) in opening day competition.