BLOG 18: A heartbreaking loss for Ferris spikers

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State volleyball players Arielle Goodson (left) and Ashley Huntey (right) go up for a block during Friday’s match in Big Rapids against Grand Valley (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris had a chance to put away one of the nation’s premier volleyball teams before a capacity home crowd inside Ewigleben Sports Arena.

In the end, however, fifth-ranked Grand Valley showed why it is recognized as one of the nation’s premier teams as it rallied from a 2-1deficit to outlast the Bulldogs in a five-set Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference marathon Friday evening.

The defeat was hardly due to a lack of effort as the powerful Lakers had to work their way from the brink of defeat to turn the tables on the head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm’s host Bulldogs. The loss spoiled a 13-kill performance from Katie Edwards, a nine-kill effort from Kristy Gilchrist, eight kills from Arielle Goodson and seven from Sarah Lark. Defensively, Andrea Rich paced the team with 20 digs while Lisa Tobiczyk had 15, Ashley Huntey and Dana Ruttle each added 13 and Candice Marut was credited with 12.

So, after winning eight straight matches, the Bulldogs have now dropped two in a row. But, the Bulldogs can still make a statement at the end of the fall if they can continue to play at the high level they’ve competed at during their last 10 matches – including the last two against nationally-ranked opponents (Lewis and GVSU).

Ferris remains at home as this weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 1) as it hosts Lake Superior and Saginaw Valley to close the regular-season portion of its home schedule.

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com