The Bulldogs have played Wisconsin-Parkside nine times since the Rangers joined the GLIAC in 2018. Parkside has not won a single set in any of those matchups.
The Bulldogs (4-6, 2-0 GLIAC) extended both their win streak against the Rangers and their 2022 season win streak. After starting the season 0-6, the win against Parkside was their third in a row (Ferris would go on to beat Wayne State Sunday to extend the win streak to four games).
With just three upper classmen on the roster, head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm discussed the youth of her team following their victory over the Rangers.
“Our whole team is new and young, but it’s an incredibly gifted group of young women,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “They work really hard. We’re excited with the progress we see. We’re always that team that tries to get one percent better every day, and I feel like this team gets better three percent every day.”
In the first set, the Bulldogs fought for the lead. Once they secured it, the set was on cruise control as they took it 25 – 16.
Coming off the first set win, the Bulldogs dominated play by taking a 20 – 4 lead. However, the team slipped and allowed Wisconsin-Parkside to gain some ground as they fought for a 21 – 10 lead. Ferris regrouped and took the set 25 – 14.
With a 2 – 0 lead, the Bulldogs capped off their dominant win with a 25 – 14 victory in the third set.
Leading the team in kills and points was sophomore Syann Fairfield.
“We’ve been working on our offense,” Fairfield said. “I think that all the things that we’ve been working on in our practices are really starting to come into our play. The way we ran the offense tonight kind of opened things up for us middle-hitters.”
In their first six games, Ferris lost 11 sets where they were within five points of their opponent.
With the Bulldogs riding a three-game win streak, they seem to have found that offensive finishing power.
Brandel-Wilhelm was happy to play back at home following eight games away to start the season.
“It’s really, really nice to play at home… It’s really great to have all that support here,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “Our first game in our temporary arena, so it’s just really nice to have that flow.”
Ferris won’t stay home for long, as their next home matchup will be Sept. 30 against Northern Michigan. They will travel to Michigan Tech on Friday, Sept. 16.
Game Stats:
Set 1:
Ferris won 25-16
Kills: 13
Errors: 4
Total Attempts: 22
Set 2:
Ferris won 25-14
Kills: 16
Errors: 9
Total attempts: 33
Set 3:
Ferris won 25-16
Kills: 14
Errors: 5
Total attempts: 35
Individual stats leaders:
Led team (kills, points): Syann Farfield (10, 14.5)
Led team in kill %: Chelsie Freeman (.455% kill %)
Led team in errors: Syann Fairfield and Oli Henneman-Dallape (4 errors)
Led team in aces: Kaylee Maat (36 aces)