Ferris State Volleyball Inks Two Talented Illinois Prep Standouts

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball program has reloaded yet again as the Bulldogs inked a pair of talented prep student-athletes from Illinois to national letters-of-intent as the fall signing period opened this past week. The announcement was made by FSU head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.

The Bulldogs' additions include outside/middle hitter Tatum Outlaw (Springfield, Ill./Rochester) along with libero Leah Bylut (Palos Heights, Ill./Alan B. Shepard). They will join the Bulldog program for the fall 2021 campaign.

The 5-10 Outlaw has been a standout for Rochester High School in Springfield, earning all-state special mention laurels along with all-conference accolades during her prep career. She played for coach Kallie Sinkus and has also been an academic all-conference honoree. Along with volleyball, Outlaw has also played tennis and plans to major in physical therapy at FSU. Additionally, she's played on the club level for the Illini Elite Volleyball Club.

"Tatum is a special athlete," said Brandel-Wilhelm. "She is dynamic with quickness in the front row and back row skills. Also, she has a big vertical jump and power on her attack. 

"Tatum is a high energy player, court leader and versatile enough to play any position in the front row," she added. "As good as Tatum is, she is still far from her potential. She is a hard-working competitor and enjoys the process of becoming better.  She is a true Bulldog. We are really looking forward to adding Tatum to our team.

Outlaw said, "I chose Ferris State because It was just the right fit for me and I know I'll thrive there academically and athletically. I've connected well with the coaching staff from the start of the recruiting process."

A four-year varsity starter, Bylut has been a three-time all-area and all-conference choice at Alan B. Shepard High School under coach Brian Zofkie. The 5-6 Bylut is a two-time team captain who has compiled 1,090 digs and 174 aces thru her junior year while also helping her team to a conference championship in 2019. A National Merit Commended Scholar, she has also played for the Sports Performance Volleyball Club, serving as a captain, and plans to major in Pre-Pharmacy at FSU.

"Leah is a fantastic addition to the Bulldog family," Brandel-Wilhelm. said. "She is a tremendous student, a hard-working athlete and dedicated leader. Leah is the player you will find in the gym training on her own before practice or on an off day. That extra dedication has made her into a really consistent ball-control player and a confident court leader in play – everything you are looking for in a libero."

Bylut said, "After reaching out to Ferris State University for the first time, I quickly found that it was the perfect fit for me. I was really interested in pursuing pharmacy and Ferris State has a great pharmacy program. I was also drawn to Ferris State because of their successful volleyball program.

"It was obvious that the team plays at an extremely high and competitive level, which was important to me in a school," she added. "The coaches made me feel very welcome during the recruiting process, and, after spending time with the team on my visit, I felt like I was a part of the Bulldog family."

The Bulldogs are the six-time defending Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Regular Season and Tournament Champions and preparing to play a spring league schedule as announced last week by the GLIAC. A year ago, in 2019, the Bulldogs compiled a 25-6 overall record and FSU also made its ninth consecutive and 24th all-time NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.