GLIAC Favorite Ferris State Volleyball Slated To Report For Fall Camp This Weekend

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University volleyball program will begin preparations for the 2019 campaign as FSU officially reports for the start of preseason workouts this weekend.

The Bulldogs will report on Saturday and then hold their first practice and training session on Monday in Big Rapids following initial testing and official check-in activities.

Along with the normal preseason practices, the squad will also participate in several scrimmages before camp comes to a close. Team meetings, presentations and conditioning are also part of the various scheduled preseason activities.

The Bulldog volleyball squad, which is the five-time defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Regular Season and Tournament Champion, was chosen first in the 2019 GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

Ferris State made its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament bid last fall and has advanced to at least the regional semifinals each of the last eight years. FSU's regional appearance a year ago represented the program's 23rd all-time NCAA bid.

In 2018, FSU closed the year with a 27-5 overall mark and also captured the program's fifth-straight GLIAC Regular Season and Tournament Championships. FSU became the first school to ever win five consecutive league tourney crowns this past fall.

Last year also marked the 17th time in 23 seasons under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm in which FSU had claimed at least 20 victories in a campaign. The Bulldogs also made their 21st consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearance.

Ferris State will return 11 letterwinners for the 2019 campaign, including three-time All-America outside hitter Allyson Cappel along with several returning regulars such as setter Maeve Grimes in addition to Courtney Brewer, Mekayla Carey, Katie O'Connell and Samantha Hermann among others. O'Connell joined Cappel as a D2 All-American a year ago.

This fall's schedule is highlighted by the return of the season-opening Ferris State Invitational on Sept. 5-7 at the Ewigleben Sports Complex. FSU opens the season by hosting Ohio Dominican on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 5 p.m. (ET). The Bulldogs then host McKendree (Ill.) on Friday, Sept. 6, at 6 p.m. (ET) before closing out the three-day event on Saturday, Sept. 7, against Gannon (Pa.) and Bemidji State (Minn.) starting at 10 a.m. (ET) and 6 p.m. (ET), respectively.