Community Invited To Celebrate Ferris State Football and Volleyball Championship Squads On Jan. 13
The event is planned for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 at Ferris State's David L. Eisler Center, 805 Campus Drive.
"We are so proud of how our Bulldogs performed on the national stage," Ferris State President Bill Pink said. "Our students, fans, and entire community rallied behind them with unmatched passion and pride. This is a truly extraordinary moment for our university—a time to come together, celebrate, and embrace the spirit of Ferris State as one big family!"
People attending the celebration will be able to pose with the National Championship and GLIAC Championship trophies, hear from coaches and student-athletes, and enjoy snacks and other surprises.
Both teams were ranked No. 1 in the nation in the final stretches of their seasons and were recognized at the conference and national levels for their performance on the field and in the classroom.
The football team earned the NCAA DII National Championship for the third time in four years. The volleyball team was undefeated in the regular season and reached the Elite Eight round of the NCAA DII National Tournament.
The Bulldogs dominated Valdosta State University 49-14 on Dec. 21 in McKinney, Texas to earn the crown. The team returned to the championship game after winning back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, winning 14 games in a row.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, a Grand Rapids resident majoring in Business Administration, finished third overall in voting for the 2024 Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to the Division II College Football Player of the Year.
Chambliss was one of four players who earned All-American honors, and Tony Annese was named National Coach of the Year.
Long snapper Sam Wahlberg, a Building Construction Technology major from Norton Shores, earned the NCAA's Elite 90 award for the 2024 Division II Football National Championship, saluting his academic and athletic excellence.
The volleyball team finished its historic year undefeated in the regular season and dominating national awards. The team's only setback was in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA DII National Tournament, finishing with a 34-1 record.
Ferris State senior Olivia Henneman-Dallape of Oregon, Ohio, was named National Player of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, becoming the first Bulldog to claim the prestigious distinction.
Tia Brandel-Wilhelm was chosen AVCA Division II National Coach of the Year, the first time she has received the honor in her 30-year career.
Henneman-Dallape, majoring in Nursing, also garnered AVCA All-America First Team honors while senior setter Kaylee Maat, of Hudsonville, an Elementary Education major, was chosen as a AVCA All-America Second Team selection and senior outside hitter Claire Nowicki, a radiography major, of Clarkston garnered AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors.
Outside hitter Logyn Geren, an Accountancy major from Fort Myers, Florida, earned the Elite 90 Award for her academics and on-court performance.