The No. 9 ranked Ferris State volleyball team opened up conference play with a sweep of the No.16 ranked Grand Valley State Lakers and the Wayne State Warriors.
The Bulldogs (9-0, 2-0 in the GLIAC) defeated Grand Valley (9-1, 1-1 in the GLIAC) by a score of 3-1 on Friday, Sept. 20. Ferris also defeated Wayne State (3-6, 1-1 in the GLIAC) by a score of 3-0 on Saturday, Sept. 21.
The Bulldogs picked up a key early season conference game versus nationally ranked rival Grand Valley. Last season, Ferris split the season series with Grand Valley 1-1, and would ultimately knock the Lakers, who won the GLIAC regular season title out of the GLIAC tournament.
Junior outside hitter Emma Bleecher acknowledges the rivalry but does not see Grand Valley as anything more than just another opponent.
“A good rivalry brings out the best in anybody, but to our team, they are truly just another opponent,” Bleecher said. “A lot of people think we play differently versus them, but we treat it as any other game and prepare just the same as anybody else.”
Senior outside hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape led the Bulldogs in kills with 19, and senior setter Kaylee Maat led Ferris with 35 assists.
The Bulldogs closed out the weekend trip with a dominant GLIAC game win versus Wayne State, a team Ferris swept two games to none last season.
Henneman-Dallape once again led the team in kills with 17, and Maat led the Bulldogs in assists with 37.
Freshman Gabby Piazza knows how big it is to walk away from the first weekend of conference play with a sweep.
“Our team has a clear understanding of what we need to do to succeed,” Piazza said. “We know it’s going to be a high level of play every weekend, and we know if we are able to execute our game plan it will show in the results.”
The Bulldogs have been nothing short of dominant to begin the season, just three wins away from tying the program record for the best start in a season at 12-0.
Senior middle hitter Syann Fairfield credits the flawless start to their connection as a team and their depth.
“Our connection on and off the court is something that really helps us succeed,” Fairfield said. “We also are the best subbing team in the nation, we have a lot of depth this year, and it is really cool to see people come off the bench and make game-changing plays.”
Bleecher believes the key to continuing the team’s dominance will be to keep doing their jobs.
“We are all doing our jobs and contributing to the team in order to produce on game days,” Bleecher said. “Every girl has a role to fulfill, and we are working every day to do that and reach the level of mastery to beat every opponent.”
Looking ahead, Ferris will take its undefeated streak on the road once again to face Michigan Tech on Friday, Sept. 27, and Northern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 28.