#8 Bulldogs Cruise To Season-Opening Home Victory Over West Virginia State

Big Rapids, Mich. - Nationally eighth-ranked Ferris State never trailed after the opening point en route to a decisive 3-0 season-opening victory over the West Virginia State Hornets inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena on Friday (Sept. 2) afternoon while opening the 2016 season with a victory.

The Bulldogs controlled the match from wire-to-wire, winning 25-17, 25-12, 25-9 over the Hornets in commanding fashion. The match lasted only an hour and three minutes.

Sophomore outside hitter Katie Placek led the way with nine kills while recording a sizzling .471 attack percentage. Freshman outside hitter Allyson Cappel added seven kills and hit .429 in her first match in a Bulldog uniform.

Offensively, the Bulldogs overpowered the Hornets, outhitting them .370 to .009 for the day.

Senior setter Stephanie Sikorski recorded 31 assists to lead Ferris State while the Hornets combined for 21 total assists.

FSU also won the battle at the net, out-blocking West Virginia State by an 8-2 count. Redshirt junior middle hitter Aspen Stuedemann led the Bulldogs with four total blocks, including one solo. Cappel and junior outside hitter Ayanna Buckley each had three total blocks with one solo knockdown at the net.

Steudemann also hit for the highest percentage of all players in the match at .667 with four kills. 

Edwina Barnett finished with the most kills for WVSU with six, as she hit .312 on the day. Three other Hornets finished with four kills.

West Virginia State struggled in the final set, hitting -.050 with 10 attack errors, as the Bulldogs had 14 kills and just one error in the final frame.

The Bulldogs have won 33 consecutive regular season home matches, dating back to the beginning of the 2013 season. They wrap up their first day of the 2016 Ferris State Invitational against the nationally 20th-ranked Cal-State San Bernardino Thunderwolves at 6 p.m. (ET) at the Ewigleben Sports Arena.