The Bulldogs downed the Lakers in Allendale to take the GLIAC tournament title and move on to the NCAA tournament 3-1.
Ferris will play GLVC foe Lewis (Ill.) in the first round of the NCAA tournament on November 20 at Grand Valley State’s Fieldhouse Arena, match time is to be determined. Grand Valley State also is in the NCAA tournament, and if Ferris were to move on, they would play the winner of Grand Valley State and Missouri S&T in the second round on Nov. 21 at Grand Valley.
This is the Bulldog’s fourth consecutive NCAA tournament bid.
Ferris was nationally ranked No. 18 as of November 10 in the AVCA Coaches poll, and will likely hope Grand Valley State who was sitting in 16th in the nation at that time.
The Bulldogs came out with a flurry of kills in the first set with a resounding 25-13 victory to open the match.
The Lakers then edged the Dawgs 25-23 in the second set to tie the match at 1-1, before Ferris took the third set 25-22.
Ferris leapt out to a 10-2 lead in the third set, but the Lakers made it tight until the end. Courtney Rehm’s spike ended the Lakers hopes of a comeback, burying the Lakers 25-22 and walking out of Allendale with a 3-1 victory.
In the first round, Ferris made quick work of Hillsdale College 3-0, winning the last set 25-10 to move on to the second round.
The Bulldogs then dismantled Findlay in the semi-final 3-0, and didn’t allow the Oilers to score more than 16 points in any set.
Ferris was 1-1 overall against the Lakers this season, last winning over their rival back on October 28 when the Dawgs made a come from behind 3-2 victory over Grand Valley.
Grand Valley’s only victory over Ferris this season was on September 23 when the Lakers ended the Bulldogs five match win streak with a resounding 3-1 victory.