Ferris State Falls In Dramatic Five-Set Heart-Breaker In NCAA Regional Quarterfinals

Postgame Press Conference

Romeoville, Ill. - The nationally #17-ranked and reigning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Champion Ferris State Women's volleyball team fell to the Rockhurst Hawks in five sets (18-25, 25-21, 25-16, 9-25, 13-15) in the NCAA Midwest Regional Quarterfinals at Neil Carey Arena at Lewis University.

Ferris State battled from behind after falling in the first set to take a 2-1 lead in the match, but Rockhurst took over in the fourth set to send it to a decisive fifth set. The Bulldogs took the first two-point lead of the set midway through, but the Hawks again responded. Ferris State senior setter Maeve Grimes made a diving dig in the final point, but the Bulldogs were unable to even the contest again as the Hawks took the final set 15-13.

For the Bulldogs, senior outside hitter and Conference Commissioner's Association Midwest Region Player of the Year Allyson Cappel led the way with 16 kills. Fellow senior outside hitter Courtney Brewer and junior outside hitter Katie O'Connell each had 11 kills for Ferris State, while sophomore middle hitter Samantha Hermann finished with six. 

Defensively, junior libero Nina Gorgijevska led Ferris State with 29 digs. Brewer added 25, while Grimes and O'Connell each had 16 for Ferris State.

For Rockhurst, Karli Reichert finished with 16 kills, while Audrey Arand had 12. The Hawks finished with 13 total blocks on the day to Ferris State's six.

Both teams gutted it out, with Rockhurst holding a slight advantage with a .180 attack percentage to Ferris State's .120 mark. As a team, Ferris State finished with 98 digs to Rockhurst's 96.

The Hawks finished with 12 service aces, while Ferris State had seven of their own, led by O'Connell who had four for the Bulldogs. 

Together the senior class of Cappel, Brewer, Grimes, and senior libero Lauren Helsen helped lead the Bulldogs to a 96-25 overall record during their tenure, including a 55-6 mark inside Ewigleben Arena, as well as four-consecutive GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships.

For Ferris State women's volleyball, the Bulldogs finished with 20 or more wins and in the top two of the GLIAC for the ninth consecutive season under Head Coach Tia Brandel Wilhelm. Ferris State made its 24th all-time NCAA tournament appearance this season and captured both a sixth consecutive GLIAC regular-season and tournament championship.