FSU Volleyball Avenges Loss In Home Finale

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball team remained unbeaten at home and avenged an earlier loss with a key 3-1 victory (25-19, 25-18, 21-25, 25-21) over Northern Michigan on Sunday (Oct. 23) at the Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids.

The nationally 13th-ranked Bulldogs improved to 13-0 ain Big Rapids by winning their regular-season home finale against the Wildcats, who had defeated FSU by a 3-2 score in early September (9/11) at Marquette.

The Bulldogs improved to 19-2 overall and 13-1 in the GLIAC with the win while NMU fell to 12-11 overall and 9-5 in conference action.

Ferris State honored the senior combination of outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Stanwood/Morley-Stanwood) and Lisa Tobiczyk (Marysville) prior to their last regular-seson home contests and the duo both helped spark the victory.

Huntey had a match-high 13 kills to go with 14 digs for the Bulldogs while Tobiczyk tallied a team-best 21 digs in the FSU win.

The Bulldogs took the first two games in convincing fashion by scores of 25-19 and 25-18, respectively, before the Wildcats responded to win the third set 25-21.  Ferris closed the door with a 25-21 triumph in the fourth frame.

FSU also received 12 kills from freshman middle hitter Courtney Rehm (Portage/Central) along with 11 by junior middle hitter Anne Sutton (Grand Rapids/Northview).  Overall, the Bulldogs recorded 47 kills.

Northern Michigan notched 54 kills to FSU's 47, but the Wildcats also had 30 attack errors and hit only .152 for the match compared to Ferris State's .194 showing with 20 errors.

The Bulldogs also benefited from nine service aces, including four-straight early in the first set from junior middle hitter Lindsey Miller (Granger, Ind./Mishawaka Penn), who finished with a match-best five on the day.

Junior setter Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) led the Bulldog charge with 37 assists on the afternoon and also chipped in 15 digs for the Bulldogs

NMU had three players reach double-figures in kills and all had 12, including Emma Wolfe, Kalli Herron and Sami Vierk.  Kalin Zimmerman added 23 digs while Lina Lopes netted 19 digs and Abby Lovell totaled 41 assists.

Overall, the Wildcats had 68 digs to FSU's 65 and both teams recorded seven blocks  Rehm had a solo block and four assists to lead Ferris State in the category.

The Wildcats also had nine service errors on the day.

While Sunday's match marked FSU's last regular-season home match, the Bulldogs hold the inside track to potentially hosting the GLIAC Tournament pending the outcome of the final five regular-season conference matches.

Ferris State will play its last five regular-season league matches on the road.  FSU next visits Ohio Domininan on Saturday, Oct. 29, for a 5 p.m. (ET) match in Columbus, Ohio.  The Bulldogs will also visit Tiffin on Sunday, Oct. 30, with match time set for 11 a.m. (ET) in Tiffin, Ohio.