After a historic 34-1 season that ended with a 3-2 loss in the Elite Eight, the Ferris State Bulldog volleyball team looks to continue its powerhouse run from last season.
The Bulldogs begin their season with the Tyler-Texas and Colorado Invitationals as a new team after losing key players like senior outside hitters Claire Nowicki and Chelsie Freeman, as well as starting libero Leah Bylut. The team also lost National Player of the Year, outside hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape, who is now playing professional volleyball in Finland, as well as the all-time Ferris assist-leading setter Kaylee Maat.
The Bulldogs did keep some key returning players like senior outside hitter Logyn Geren, junior setter Corrie Wisser, and sophomore outside hitter Gabby Piazza, who led the returning Bulldogs with 218 kills last season. Sophomore setter Hayley Wegener led the returners with 123 assists last year, which was second on the team behind Maat’s 1,162 assists.
One of the returning Bulldogs, senior outside hitter Emma Bleecher, is excited for the new season and believes last year’s success will carry over to this year.
“I think last season was amazing, and it was an absolute blessing to be a part of,” Bleecher said. “It proved to us that we can achieve something incredible as a team, and I think that will carry over more than anything else to this year’s team. Every year is different, and our vision is huge, so having that memory of getting to Sioux Falls just gives us that foresight for this year and continues to motivate us moving forward.”
Bleecher ended the season last year with 54 kills on 27 errors. Bleecher also recorded 12 assists and led the team last season with 47 service aces for a 0.40 aces per set, which was also the highest on the team.
The Bulldogs open the season as second in the GLIAC preseason poll, right behind rival Grand Valley State and in front of Wayne State, which sits at third. The Lakers received 98 points with eight first-place votes, while the Bulldogs received 92 points with three first-place votes. In the preseason poll for all of Division-II women’s volleyball, Ferris State sits fifth in the nation, while Grand Valley State is 14th in the country. Lynn University, located in Boca Raton, Florida, currently sits at the top of the Division-II preseason poll with 45 first-place votes.
The Bulldogs had a strong freshman class, adding seven new players to their roster this year. One of the new players is defensive specialist, libero Brenna Mossel. In her first collegiate season, Mossel explained what she’s most excited for.
“I’m most excited to grow as both an athlete and a student while building new friendships along the way,” Mossel said.
For the first two weeks of the season, Ferris State is away at invitationals, first in Texas for the Tyler-Texas Invitational and the second in Colorado for the Colorado Invitational. With this, the Bulldogs won’t have their passionate fanbase cheering them on from the stands.
This doesn’t faze reigning National Coach of the Year Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, who believes in her team to get the job done no matter the venue her team plays at.
“We realize that a great volleyball team has to perform well on the road and at home,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “So we work to have a routine that keeps us focused on the game and strategies.”
Ferris State’s first game of the new season is against the UT Tyler Patriots at the Tyler-Texas Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 8:30 p.m. The Bulldogs’ home opener will be on Friday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m. against the Michigan Tech Huskies.