Ferris State Volleyball Storms Past Alderson-Broaddus In First Match

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball team opened its 40th anniversary season with an impressive 3-0 sweep over Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.) on Friday (Aug. 31) afternoon in Big Rapids.

The nationally 14th-ranked Bulldogs stormed past the Battlers by scores of 25-11, 25-17 and 25-15 in straight-sets at the Ferris State Invitational held inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex.

Senior middle hitter Anne Sutton paced the preseason Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) favorites with a match-high 14 kills.  She was joined in double-figures by sophomore hitter Courtney Rehm with 10 kills and senior outside hitter Aly Brecht with 10 kills.

Ferris State hit .300 or better in all three frames as FSU rolled up 44 total kills to only 22 for Alderson-Broaddus.  The Battlers were led by Katie Bedel with six kills.

Senior setter Samantha Fordyce spearheaded the Bulldog attack with 31 assists and added eight digs and five kills in the triumph.

FSU also received 10 digs from junior libero Brandie Merren while Rehm added eight digs and Brecht had six in the all-around effort.

Overall, Ferris State tallied 39 assists and 41 digs in comparison to the Battlers' 20 assists and 36 digs.  The Bulldogs also held a big advantage with nine team blocks to only two for the guests.  Angi Kent notched four block assists to lead FSU in that category.

The Bulldogs never trailed in the opening set and fell behind only once in frame number two in posting the dominating win.

With the win, Ferris State improved to 4-0 all-time over the Battlers as the two teams faced off for the first time since 2003.

The Bulldogs return to action with an evening match on Friday against Mercyhurst beginning at 7 p.m. (ET) in the Ferris State Invitational.  FSU will also play two additional matches on Saturday (Sept. 1) to conclude the event at 1 p.m. (ET) and 5 p.m. (ET).

A total of nine teams are taking part in the 2012 Ferris State Invitational with 18 total matches being held over the two-day span on two courts in the facility.