Bulldog Volleyball Rolls To Two Wins In First Day Action At Home Invite

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad opened its 2013 campaign by rolling to a pair of identical 3-0 wins over California (Pa.) and Missouri-St. Louis in the FSU Invitational inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena.

FSU won its afternoon opener over California (Pa.) by scores of 25-19, 25-17 and 25-21 before coming back in the evening to defeat UMSL.

In the win over Cal-PA, the Bulldogs received 13 kills from newcomer Alexis Huntey along with 11 kills by sophomore Danielle Dowd.  FSU also received 12 digs each from sophomore Megan Vander Meer and freshman Stephanie Sikorski.

The Bulldogs hit .297 for the match and came up with 52 digs, 42 kills and seven total blocks.  FSU also managed to total four service aces to go with eight service errors.

Sikorski added a team-high 35 assists in her collegiate debut while Vander Meer totaled two aces from the service line.  The Bulldogs' Caroline Heitzman chipped in with six kills and five digs.

The Bulldogs limited California (Pa.) to 36 kills and only a .119 attack percentage.  The Vulcans finished with 50 digs, two blocks and a single ace.

In the evening match, the Bulldogs beat Missouri-St. Louis 25-23, 26-24 and 25-20 to improve to 2-0 on the day.

Huntey led the Bulldogs again in match number two with 15 kills while Heitzman reached double-digits with 10 kills.  Senior libero Brandie Merren totaled a team-best 19 digs while Huntey and Dowd had 11 each.

Sikorski directed the offense with 36 assists and Merren contributed three aces in the win.  Additionally, Sikorski had nine digs with Vander Meer netting nine kills and seven digs to help the Bulldog cause.

As a team, Ferris State had 49 kills and 64 digs with three aces and six team blocks.  The Bulldogs hit .285 overall in the match.

Missouri-St. Louis was led by Jory Siebenmorgen and Chelsea Burkle with 10 kills each.  Emily Bragaw had 20 digs and Burkle added 15 digs.

UMSL was held to a .197 attack figure on 42 kills and 16 attack errors. They totaled 63 digs and three aces.

Ferris State continues action in its own invitational on Saturday (Sept. 7) with a pair of matches.  The Bulldogs will host Washburn (Kan.) at 2:30 p.m. followed by contest against Cedarville (Ohio) at 5 p.m. (ET).