Volleyball Wraps Up Tourney On Winning Note
After a disappointing loss in its opening match this Saturday (Sept. 5) at the 2009 St. Cloud State Tournament, the Ferris State University women's volleyball team rallied to register a 3-0 sweep of Missouri S&T at SCSU's Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minn.
Sophomore outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) continued to shine on the court by hammering a match-high 11 kills while producing a .269 attack percentage for Ferris State, which now sports a 6-3 overall record and is winners in four of its last five outings to date. Three other Bulldogs, senior outside hitter Katie Edwards (Cedar Springs) along with junior middle hitter Arielle Goodson (Grand Rapids/Central) and senior middle hitter Kristy Gilchrist (Macomb/Anchor Bay) contributed to the win with eight kills each. Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt), a redshirt freshman, distributed a match-leading 30 assists and compiled seven digs.
Defensively, sophomore libero Lisa Tobiczyk (Marysville) recorded double-digit digs for the ninth consecutive match this campaign as a result of garnering a match-best tying 11 digs. Ashley Huntey chalked up seven digs for the Bulldogs, who accumulated 44 total as a team. Junior libero Dana Ruttle (Reed City) generated six digs and served four aces as Ferris State amassed 12 service aces for the contest.
The Bulldogs won the opening two sets on solid hitting (.353) in the first and poor hitting (-.056) by the Miners in the second. The third set was a close one right to the end as Ferris trailed 25-24 on an attack error. But, Arielle Goodson put down a kill off a set by freshman Paige Wyers (White Cloud) to draw the Bulldogs into a tie. Ashley Huntey would follow suit on a Wyers' set to make it 26-25 and following a Missouri S&T timeout, Dana Ruttle's service ace clinched the set and match.
FSU posted a .134 hitting percentage and Missouri S&T hit for a .217 percentage. Julie Meyers' 10 kills was a team high for the Miners (3-5 overall). Ferris State held the edge in kills (39-35), digs (44-42), blocks (9.0-8.5), and service aces (12-1).
Ferris State concluded the two-day St. Cloud State Tournament with a 3-1 record, which was highlighted by a 3-1 triumph over nationally fifth-ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Friday (Sept. 4).
The Bulldogs will return home to begin a four-match homestand, starting this Wednesday (Sept. 9) with a non-conference match against Davenport. A 7 p.m. (EDT) start is scheduled for the contest at FSU's Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.
