The Bulldog volleyball team advances to the Midwest Regional Tournament in hopes of capturing their first championship since 2013.
Ferris looks to continue its undefeated run into the playoffs. Not only were the Bulldogs selected as the number one seed in the Midwest Regional, but they were also chosen as the host for the tournament.
This will be the seventh time in school history Ferris has hosted NCAA tournament play and is the 13th consecutive NCAA tournament bid the Bulldogs have received.
The Bulldogs first opponent will be the eight-seed Missouri-St Louis Tritons (19-8, 8-5 in GLVC). The Bulldogs hope to get even with the Tritons, as they have sent Ferris home on multiple occasions. Missouri-St Louis defeated Ferris in the regional championship in 2023 and earlier this year at the conclusion of the 23-24 campaign.
The Bulldogs capped off their regular season with a GLIAC tournament championship, their 15th in school history. Ferris defeated Purdue Northwest 3-0 in the tournament quarterfinal, Michigan Tech 3-2 in the semifinal and rival Grand Valley 3-0 in the championship.
The Bulldogs finished off their best regular season to date, going 31-0, losing 11 total sets the whole year. Multiple athletes earned regular season awards as senior setter Kaylee Maat set the all-time GLIAC record for assists and the team claimed five of the six major GLIAC awards such as senior outside hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape earning GLIAC player of the year and head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm earning GLIAC coach of the year.
Henneman-Dallape explained that the team’s mindset hasn’t changed heading into the tournament.
“I think the most important thing is going to be one game at a time,” Henneman-Dallape said. “Every game we play from here on out is going to be a great game and it is going to be tough, so we need to stick to who we are, but the most important task is taking our practice and focusing on the things that are going to give us one more step of growth.”
The squad looks to get over the hump of the regional championship game. For the past three seasons, the Bulldogs have lost in the Midwest Region Championship.
In the years leading up to those the Bulldogs lost in the regional semifinal and quarterfinals, and have yet to make it to the NCAA Playoff quarterfinals in recent years.
The last season the Bulldogs made it to the National Quarterfinals was in 2013, where they went 25-9 and lost to the BYU-Hawaii Seasiders.
For many Bulldogs, this is the last crack at a championship. Henneman-Dallape, Maat, outside hitter Claire Nowicki, middle hitter Chelsie Freeman and libero Leah Bylut are all in their senior season just to name a few.
Senior middle hitter Syann Fairfield knows the team lives for these moments.
“I think our game plan is to continue bettering our own play just that 1% better every day,” Fairfield said. “We just need to prepare for the next game, and obviously we know every game is a huge challenge, especially at this point in the year, but we live for these moments and the challenge.”
If the Bulldogs defeat the Tritons, they will have to face off against either the Lewis Flyers or the Rockhurst Hawks, then a potential rematch against Grand Valley.
If the Bulldogs win the Midwest Regional championship, they will be placed in the NCAA DII Playoff Quarterfinals and play against the other playoff favorites in the No. 2 ranked and one-seed St Cloud State Huskies, who may be the toughest team the Bulldogs have the potential to face this season.
Brandel-Wilhelm knows it’s an honor to host the Midwest Regional, and it represents the hard work the team has done.
“Of course we are excited to host the Midwest Regional, it is a cool honor to have and it represents the hard work this team has done,” Brandel-Wilhelm said. “But it really does not matter where we are playing, you have got to win the games and work hard, and every opponent in our region is really good and have a chance to win the whole thing, and we have to get and be ready to play.”
The Bulldogs face off against the Tritons on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 3:30 p.m. in the first round of the Midwest Regional Championship at Ewigleben Sports Arena.