The Ferris volleyball team continues to improve their record with a near weekend sweep during GLIAC play.
Women’s volleyball faced Lake Superior State University (LSSU) Friday, Sept. 21, and Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) Saturday,
Sept. 22. The Bulldogs continued to thrive at home and won both matches, improving their record 12-3 overall and 7-0 in conference play.
It seems as if the Bulldogs are nearly unbeatable when they play at the Ewigleben Arena, as they have an outstanding 72-6 record in their last 78 home matches.
However, with great success comes great challenges, which the Bulldogs experienced when they nearly dropped the first two sets against LSSU, which left fans holding their breath as the volleyball team squeaked out a 3-0 win.
“We weren’t really crisp with what we were doing,” Ferris volleyball head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm said. “I thought we were a step behind in our movements and maybe just not vocalizing and paying attention as much to what was happening on the other side of the net.”
What helped bring the Bulldogs to victory was the energy from the crowd, as well as the team, to push through and win their sets.
“I think we had lots of energy. We were up and down the first two sets, so we kinda talked about that in the locker room to have more energy,” Ferris junior setter Maeve Grimes said.
The Bulldogs’ struggles carried on into Saturday, as they dropped their second set to the SVSU Cardinals. The Bulldogs nearly dropped the third, too, had it not been for an incredible rally by Ferris junior setter and defensive specialist Lauren Helsen, who brought the Bulldogs back from the losing side of a 20-13 score to tie it up at 20-20. The rally fired the team up and got the gears moving again to take the third set and come away with a 3-1 victory.
The Bulldogs are on the road this weekend to square up against Davenport University 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28, and will face Grand Valley
State University 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29.