Bulldogs Suffer Lone Weekend Setback To Conclude Annual Home Invitational

Tourney Info/Results
Postgame Highlights & Interview

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad suffered its first setback of the 2021 fall season on Saturday (Sept. 4) afternoon as the Bulldogs dropped a 3-1 decision to visiting Winona State (Minn.) on the final day of FSU's annual home invitational at the Ewigleben Sports Complex.

Both teams entered the match unbeaten at 3-0 on the year and both also were ranked among other teams receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Preseason National Rankings. However, the Warriors captured a 25-10, 16-25, 25-22, 25-20 victory as the Bulldogs finished the weekend at home with a 3-1 overall mark.

The Warriors limited FSU to a .135 attack percentage for the match and Winona State's Sidney Paulson talked a match-high 23 kills in the contest. The visitors also got 15 kills from Megan From with Brett Maloney totaling 41 assists overall.

For Ferris State, middle hitter Kira Merkle had a big match with 15 kills to go along with four block assists. Senior hitter Katie O'Connell had 14 kills and 18 digs while Kaylee Maat netted 39 assists.

Additionally, FSU's Keona Salesman finished with nine kills and Samantha Hermann had eight kills. 

The Bulldogs finished the match with 93 digs as senior libero Nina Gorgijevska tallied 27 digs overall. Along with O'Connell's 18 digs, the Bulldogs also got 15 digs from Maat and 12 by freshman Claire Nowicki.

The Warriors posted a .216 hitting figure and also came up with 113 digs in a strong defensive performance, which included a match-high 45 digs from libero Becca Pagel.

Ferris State will be back in action next weekend with four matches slated for Thursday thru Saturday, Sept. 9-11, at a tournament hosted by the University of Texas-Tyler in Tyler, Texas. The Bulldogs open against the host school on Thursday night at 7 p.m. (ET).