Three Ferris State Programs Among Nation's Top 25 Less Than A Week Into Season!

Big Rapids, Mich. - The fall sports season is less than a week old, but already three different Ferris State University teams are found in their respective Division II National Rankings as the Bulldog football, volleyball and men's cross country teams are all among the country's top 25 programs this week.

The Bulldog volleyball team, guided by 19th-year head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, headlines FSU's ranked programs as the Bulldogs are 15th overall in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top 25 poll. Meanwhile, the men's cross country squad came in 20th in the most recent United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national listing.

The FSU football squad, under third-year head coach Tony Annese, is featured in five different Division II polls this week, including being ranked 18th in the D2Football.com National Rankings. FSU is also ranked 24th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Rankings unveiled by the national coaches organization in addition to being listed 25th by two online computer ranking systems - the Massey Ratings and CompughterRatings.com. FSU came in 20th in the Beyond Sports Network Division II Power Rankings this week as well.

Ferris State Football opens Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action this Saturday, Sept. 13, on the road against the Northwood Timberwolves in Midland, Mich. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (ET) at NU's Hantz Stadium.

Meanwhile, the volleyball squad also begins GLIAC play away from home as FSU travels to Saginaw Valley State for a 7 p.m. (ET) league opener on Friday (Sept. 12) in University Center before visiting Wayne State on Saturday (Sept. 13) with match time set for 2 p.m. (ET) in Detroit.

Finally, the men's cross country team will join the FSU women's cross country squad to run in the Michigan State Spartan Open on Friday in East Lansing. Both teams, who are being guided this fall by interim head coach Jared Kelsh, hosted the 40th annual running of the Ray Helsing Bulldog Invitational last weekend at Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids.

Ferris State football and volleyball will play their 2014 home openers next week. The volleyball program hosts Walsh on Friday (Sept. 19) at 7 p.m. (ET) inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena before taking on Malone Saturday (Sept. 20) at 3 p.m. (ET). The same evening, the Bulldog football team hosts archrival Grand Valley State in the Anchor-Bone Classic beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) at Top Taggart Field.

For ticket information, please call (231) 591-2888 or visit FerrisStateBulldogs.com.