Following a weekend sweep for the first two games of GLIAC play, the Ferris volleyball team has a weekend slate of GLIAC rivals in the Grand Valley State Lakers and the Wayne State Warriors.
The Bulldogs (7-3, 2-0 in GLIAC) faced off against the Michigan Tech Huskies (3-6, 0-2 in GLIAC) and took them down by a score of 3-1 on Friday, Sept. 19.
With the Bulldogs being led by sophomore outside hitter Gabby Piazza, who is taking on the role of 2024 AVCA NCAA Division II Player of the Year, Olivia Henneman-Dallape. Piazza had 13 kills on 51 total attempts, but had a season high 11 errors, while sophomore outside hitter Emily May had 12 kills on 31 total attempts.
Head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm spoke about how she thought her team performed that night.
“I don’t think our offense was what we wanted it to be,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “For sure, tonight we just had some parts that weren’t quite there. I was really happy with the way the team adapted and the players adapted, you know, they did a few different things on offense, so we’re really happy with that.”
Then on Saturday, Ferris went to battle against the Northern Michigan Wildcats (1-9, 0-2 in GLIAC) and took them down by a score of 3-0. Senior outside hitter Emma Bleecher led the team with 11 kills on 31 total attempts, and sophomore setter Hayley Wegener had three kills of her own while having 31 assists.
The Bulldogs’ next matchup will be on Friday against the Grand Valley State Lakers (7-2, 2-0 in GLIAC), who currently are tied for first place in the GLIAC along with Ferris, Parkside, and Wayne State. The Lakers are led by redshirt junior middle blocker Brianna Stawski, who has 89 kills on the season (3.65 per set) with 113 total points, which is good for eighth in the GLIAC.
Ferris has had the Lakers’ number the last 10 years, since 2015. The Bulldogs have a record of 19-1 against Grand Valley, with that only loss coming in 2023, when the Bulldogs lost in Allendale by a score of 3-1.
Graduate outside hitter Tatum Outlaw knows this is anyone’s game going into the matchup against Grand Valley, and they just have to be prepared.
“We always have the mentality of respecting all and fearing none,” Outlaw said. “Regardless of the team we’re facing, because volleyball is such a competitive sport, and it can be anyone’s game regardless of what their record shows, we just have to prepare as much as we can.”
The second of two matchups this weekend comes on Saturday against the Wayne State Warriors (8-1, 2-0 in GLIAC). This season, the Warriors are off to their best start since 2021, when they began the season 8-2.
The Warriors are led by one of the best players in the GLIAC thus far this season in senior middle blocker Kayla Giroux. Giroux has 32 kills, which is good for third in the GLIAC, with 30 total blocks, which is ninth in the GLIAC, while sitting at third in the division for points with 139.5.
Senior outside hitter Emma Bleecher believes the GLIAC is tough, but she thinks her team will compete and come out on top in the division.
“I think the GLIAC is tough every year, just in different ways,” Bleecher said. “It has always been a very strong conference with great players and great coaches, and everyone is always adjusting and finding new ways to compete with new game plans. With our personnel and our willingness, I believe that we’re going to come out on top in the GLIAC. There’s going to be some very good games, and we have to finish strong in tough moments, it’s going to be lots of fun.”
The Bulldogs will take on their GLIAC foes at Ewigleben Sport Arena, with Grand Valley State Lakers on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m., and the Wayne State Warriors the next day on Saturday at 3 p.m.