FSU Volleyball Dispatches West Virginia State
The Ferris State University women's volleyball team jumped out to a 2-0 lead before letting set three get away, but rallied in the fourth set to capture a 3-1 non-conference decision (25-16, 25-16, 16-25, 28-26) against West Virginia State this Friday (Aug. 28) morning at FSU's Ewigleben Sports Arena in the 2009 Ferris State Invitational opener at Big Rapids, Mich.
The Bulldogs won their second straight match of the 2009 season in improving to 2-0 overall as the host team held a 56-33 kills advantage, an 11.0-5.0 blocks edge, and a 10-6 serving ace lead.
Senior outside hitter Katie Edwards (Cedar Springs) slammed a match-high 17 kills on .424 hitting to go with three aces and three block assists. Junior middle hitter Arielle Goodson (Grand Rapids/Central) continued to produce for the Bulldogs as she turned in her second consecutive double-figure kills performance with 13 total and contributed with a match-leading five block assists. Senior outside hitter Sarah Lark (Alma) chipped in with eight kills and finished with a .250 attack percentage.
Ferris State wrapped up the four-set match by hitting .160 while the Bulldogs put the clamps on the Yellow Jackets defensively, limiting the visitors to a .076 attack percentage.
Redshirt freshman setter Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) posted her first double-double of her collegiate career with 44 assists and 11 digs while also hitting at a .667 clip on four kills in six attempts. Joining Fordyce in recording double-digit digs were sophomore libero Lisa Tobiczyk (Marysville) with 12 while sophomore outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) and junior libero Dana Ruttle (Reed City) notched 11 and 10 digs, respectively.
In the opening set, Ferris State broke a 7-7 tie and finished on a 17-8 scoring run as the Bulldogs hit for a .118 percentage. FSU would claim the the second set as well due to a 9-0 scoring spurt to snap a 16-all deadlock as the Bulldogs registered a .444 hitting percentage with 15 kills on 27 opportunities. The second set featured nine scoring ties and five lead changes.
The third set went to West Virginia State as the Yellow Jackets concluded action by outscoring the Bulldogs 8-0 down the stretch. The fourth set, which featured six ties and three lead changes, saw Ferris State trailing by six points (21-15) in the late stage of the set. However, the Bulldogs would gradually chip away at the visitor's lead and tied the set at 24 points apiece on a WVSU attack error. The two teams would battle to two more ties before Ferris State broke the 26-all deadlock with back-to-back kills by Arielle Goodson and Katie Edwards to claim the victory.
Ferris State continues play in the Ferris State Invitational later this afternoon (Aug. 28) as the Bulldogs entertain the Indianapolis Greyhounds in a 5 p.m. (EDT) non-league contest at the Ewigleben Sports Arena.