Ferris State Volleyball Completes Weekend Sweep Over Ashland With Saturday Triumph

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad capped off an impressive weekend sweep on Saturday (March 6) as the Bulldogs topped Ashland 3-0 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) action at the Ewigleben Sports Arena.

The Bulldogs, who beat the Eagles 3-1 in Friday's weekend opener, earned a 25-10 triumph in the first set and then captured wins of 25-18 and 25-19 in the next two frames to take the victory and the weekend sweep. Ashland had entered the weekend as the GLIAC's lone unbeaten squad.

Ferris State senior Katie O'Connell had another big day with a match-high 17 kills and 23 digs in leading FSU. She was honored prior to the match for notching her 1,000th career dig in Friday's win and picked up right where she left off on Saturday. She also had an ace and a pair of block assists.

The Bulldogs also got 12 kills from Morgan Ross in addition to seven by Keona Salesman and six from Kira Merkle. Freshman setter Kaylee Maat had 39 assists in the win.

FSU compiled a .258 hitting figure, including a .325 showing in the first set, and limited the Eagles to .054 overall. FSU had 46 kills to only 27 for Ashland.

Overall, Ferris State also totaled 74 digs with libero Nina Gorgijevska posting 20 to go along with the 23 by O'Connell. Maat added 11 digs for FSU.

Ashland was led by Erin Krupar's team-high 10 kills and Katie Thompson finished with 16 digs.

The Bulldogs also had seven blocks and six aces in the victory.

With the win, Ferris State improved to 5-1 overall and the Eagles dropped to 4-2 on the year. FSU remains midst a three-way tie atop the GLIAC North Division standings with Northern Michigan and Northwood.

The Bulldogs hit the road next weekend to face Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, in Houghton. The opening match gets underway on Friday at 2 p.m. (ET) with Saturday's finale set to start at 12 p.m. (ET).