Goodson Named 2010-11 Helen Bennett Award Recipient

Arielle Goodson (Grand Rapids/Central) of the Ferris State University women's volleyball team has been named as the 2010-11 recipient of the Helen Bennett Award which is awarded annually to the Bulldogs' most outstanding senior female student-athlete.  The selection was made by the Helen Bennett Memorial Award Committee. 

Goodson concluded a highly-productive four-year (2007-10) career this past fall by earning American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America Second-Team accolades. 

The Helen Bennett Award, which is in its 25th year of existance and named in honor of late university faculty member Helen Bennett, is sponsored annually by the Ferris Professional Women's (FPW) organization to a senior female student-athlete who combines performance both athletically and academically.  Bennett was the wife of longtime FSU golf and track & field coach Norm Bennett (1956-71), who began the award in her memory and was later inducted into the Bulldog Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.   

A two-time (2009 and 2010) AVCA All-Midwest Region selection, Goodson attained All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) First-Team kudos in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.  The 6-2 middle hitter, who claimed 2010 Daktronics, Inc. All-Midwest Region laurels, also landed a spot on both the Ferris State Invitational and GLIAC Tournament teams for the 2010 campaign.

Goodson, the 2010 team's Most Valuable Player, registered a career season-best 428 kills in 2010 and averaged 4.04 kills per set while producing a career single-season high .296 hitting percentage as the Bulldogs posted their 13th consecutive winning season this last fall with an 18-10 overall record.  She notched 97 total blocks on the season, which included 27 block solos, to go along with a career season-best 30 service aces as a starter in all 27 outings played in.  Goodson, a 2008 All-GLIAC Second-Team member, amassed 520 total points for a squad-high 4.91 points per set in 102 total sets this campaign.  The two-time (Oct. 11 and 25) GLIAC North Division Player of the Week selection chalked up double-digit kills in 24 matches this season, which included 11 of her last 12 appearances.

Academically, Goodson is a two-time (2009 and 2010) GLIAC All-Academic Team member and graduated this May 2011. 

One of four 2010 team captains, Goodson concluded her Ferris State career presently ranking third among the program's all-time leaders in block solos (108), ninth in total blocks (399), 12th in kills (1,212), 13th in attack percentage (.248), and 15th in block assists (291).  She competed in 116 matches for her career which included 431 sets. 

The selection of Goodson represents the ninth time in which a volleyball student-athlete has been honored with this award.  Previous such recipients include Kris Johnson (1986-87), Janna Biggs (1988-89), Dawn Lowe (1989-90), Kelly Stosik (1990-91), Karen Volkers (1991-92), Melissa Petty (1995-96), Sheri (Maus) Harris (1998-99), and Morgan Buckner (2001-02) 

FPW is a university organization which encourages and promotes women by providing opportunities to consider and act on common interests and issues.  Active membership is open to individuals employed at Ferris State University, their spouses and retirees.  

Helen Bennett Award Recipients:
1986-87 -- Kris Johnson (Women's Volleyball) and Sandy Davison (Women's Basketball)
1987-88 -- Karen Kramer (Women's Basketball)
1988-89 -- Janna Biggs (Women's Volleyball)
1989-90 -- Dawn Lowe (Women's Volleyball)
1990-91 -- Kelly Stosik (Women's Volleyball)
1991-92 -- Karen Volkers (Women's Volleyball)
1992-93 -- Monica Ferguson (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
1993-94 -- Elizabeth Berry (Women's Tennis)
1994-95 -- Melissa Thomas (Women's Track & Field)
1995-96 -- Melissa Petty (Women's Volleyball)
1996-97 -- Nikki Moeggenborg (Softball)
1997-98 -- Kristen Campbell (Women's Tennis)
1998-99 -- Sheri (Maus) Harris (Women's Volleyball)
1999-00 -- Anne Bentley (Softball/Women's Tennis)
2000-01 -- Pam Preston (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
2001-02 -- Morgan Buckner (Women's Volleyball/Track & Field)
2002-03 -- Suzanne Batten (Women's Tennis)
2003-04 -- Molly Potvin (Women's Basketball)
2004-05 -- Crystal Flutur (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)
2005-06 -- Jenny Irwin (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)  
2006-07 -- Erin Miller (Women's Basketball)
2007-08 -- Katie Kraai (Softball)
2008-09 -- Holly Bruntjens (Softball)
2009-10 -- Kayle Stevenson (Softball)
2010-11 -- Arielle Goodson (Women's Volleyball)