Ferris State Advances to GLIAC Tourney Finals

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball team advanced to the final round to the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Tournament after blanking Ashland University 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-19) on Saturday afternoon (Nov. 12) at the Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids, Mich.

The win gave the top-seeded and nationally 12th-ranked Bulldogs a current 26-2 overall record after finishing the 2011 GLIAC regular season with an 18-1 conference ledger. The Eagles ended their season with a 15-13 overall record.

Junior middle hitter Anne Sutton (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview) led the hosts with 14 kills on 26 attempts. She registered an impressive .538 attack percentage. Senior outside hitter Ashley Huntey (Standwood/Morley-Stanwood) added 10 kills for FSU in the decisive victory. The Bulldogs totaled 43 kills in the three-set match.

Junior setter Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) notched 34 of the team's 39 helpers.  Three Bulldogs tallied double-digit digs with Huntey posting 15 overall. Senior libero Lisa Tobiczyk (Marysville) had 13 and sophomore setter Brandi Merren (Hopkins) registered 10 digs.

The Bulldogs had a total of nine blocks. Ashland was only able to block one Ferris State attack attempt. Sutton totaled a match-high four blocks with all coming by virtue of block assists.

Ferris State maintained a lead throughout the first two sets. The third set saw six tie scores and  four lead changes.

The win was the 10th-straight for the Bulldogs this season and improved FSU's home mark to 15-0 on the year.

The Bulldogs will be back in action on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 13) as they face second-seeded Hillsdale in the GLIAC Tournament Championship match at the Ewigleben Sports arena. It is scheduled for a 2 p.m. (ET) start.