Nationally-Ranked Bulldogs Battle Back To Beat Missouri Western State & Stay Unbeaten
Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 18th-ranked Ferris State University women's volleyball team rallied back after an opening frame setback to take down Missouri Western State on Friday (Sept. 4) evening in Big Rapids in 3-1 fashion to complete opening day play at the Ferris State Invitational unbeaten.
The visiting Griffons pulled out a 26-24 triumph in the first frame. They then jumped out to the early lead in the second frame, leading 8-3 before FSU head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm called a timeout. The Bulldogs answered with a 7-0 run and didn't look back en route to winning the final three frames by scores of 25-22, 25-17 and 25-13.
Sophomore outside hitter Ayanna Buckley and senior middle hitter Caroline Heitzman led the way with 14 kills apiece in the victory, which came on the heels of a 3-0 win over California (Pa.) in the first match of the game. Additionally, senior outside hitter Alexis Huntey added 12 kills of her own as well as 13 digs.
Senior libero Danielle Dowd had 25 digs to pace the Bulldogs while junior setter Stephanie Sikorski finished with 27 assists. Junior setter Jenna Way also posted 15 assists while senior outside hitter Megan Vander Meer recorded eight kills and seven digs along with five total blocks.
Ferris State out-blocked the opposition for the second consecutive match with nine total blocks to six for Missouri Western State. Heitzman added five block assists while Sikorski had a solo block and two assisted efforts.
Overall, the match featured 14 lead changes and was tied 31 times with the majority of both coming in the first set. Ferris State held a commanding lead for the entirety of the fourth frame, at one point leading 22-9 before putting the Griffons away.
Missouri Western State received 11 kills from Jessie Thorup along with 21 digs by Kayla Ruff in dropping to 0-2 on the day.
Overall, Ferris State hit .257 for the match and limited Missouri Western to a .067 figure. The Bulldogs netted 58 kills, 61 digs and four aces, but had 17 service errors. Meanwhile, the Griffons tallied 35 kills, 62 digs and two aces with 10 service mistakes.
The match concluded the first day of the season and opening day action at the Ferris State University Invitational. A total of eight teams from six states are taking part in the two-day event.
The reigning GLIAC Champion Bulldogs continue their opening weekend on Saturday (Sept. 5), when they are scheduled for a 12 p.m. (ET) match against McKendree (Ill.) before closing out the invitational with a 5 p.m. (ET) start against Metro State (Colo.). Both matches will take place inside FSU's Ewigleben Sports Arena.
All of Ferris State's opponents in this weekend's event went to the 2014 NCAA Division II Volleyball tournament and received votes in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll.