Bulldogs Split GLIAC Road Matches

September 24, 2001

Last Weekend - The Bulldogs split a pair of conference road matches. On Friday (Sept. 21), FSU rallied from a 2-1 deficit to force a fifth game before dropping a 3-2 decision at Northwood. In Saturday's (Sept. 22) contest at Saginaw Valley State, the Bulldogs cruised to a 3-0 victory. With the win over the Cardinals, Ferris State has now won 10 or more matches in 21-consecutive seasons. The last time the Bulldogs failed to win 10 matches was during the 1980 campaign when FSU finished 5-21 overall and 2-12 in the GLIAC.

Minnis Notches Big Block - Senior middle hitter Erin Minnis notched her 350th career block in Saturday's win over Saginaw Valley State as she compiled a team-high eight total blocks. In 60 games this season, the 6-0 Minnis has 21 solo blocks and 59 block assists (1.33 bpg). She needs only three more solo blocks to match her team-high of 24 solo blocks a season ago.

In the two weekend matches, Minnis totaled 18 kills, 11 digs and 14 total blocks. With her 18 kills, she now needs only 105 more to become the 11th player in school history to record 1,000 or more career kills.

Minnis ranks second on the squad in kills with 183 (3.05 kpg), is second with 130 total digs (2.17 dpg) and is tied for first with 80 total blocks. A returning All-Great Lakes Region selection, Minnis has appeared in 298 of the past 299 Bulldog games. Despite recording eight total blocks, Minnis had her eight match double-figure kill streak end against Saginaw Valley State as she totaled eight kills.

Olds Records 500th Career Kill - Junior Alaina Olds recorded her 500th career kill last Friday against Northwood as she led the squad with 11 kills. A 5-11 middle hitter, Olds leads the 2001 squad with 200 kills (3.39 kpg). She needs only 16 kills to better her output of 215 kills a year ago. On Saturday, Olds had her eight-match double-figure kill streak end in the win over Saginaw Valley State as she compiled seven kills on 12 attacks (.583). Olds has recorded 10 or more kills in 12 of 16 matches this season. She needs 20 digs to record her 200th career dig. Olds notched her 250th total block in the win over Saginaw Valley State.

Keep Digging - Junior Angie Desmarais compiled her 100th career dig in Friday's contest at Northwood. Two other FSU players are also closing in on important career dig marks. Senior Emily Williams is 15 digs away from notching her 100th career dig while junior Stephanie Speed needs 15 additional digs to earn her 400th career dig. Speed leads the 2001 squad in digs with 167 (2.74 dpg). Desmarais has totaled 77 digs (1.71 dpg) while Williams has 85 digs (2.30 dpg) this season.

Foster Has Best Outing - Redshirt freshman Annie Foster compiled a career-high 10 digs to lead Ferris State in Saturday's win over Saginaw Valley State. She added five digs in Friday night's loss at Northwood. In 26 games this season, the 5-10 Foster has compiled 14 kills and 23 digs. She has appeared in each of the past six matches and played in two games in both matches last weekend.

Bulldog Bites - Ferris State has won the first game in all 16 matches this season ........... Senior Erin Minnis has recorded at least one kill in each of the past 80 matches. The streak dates back to the first match of the 1999 campaign ........... Junior Kate Pickvet has at least one kill in 41-straight matches while Alaina Olds has a 32-match kill streak alive .............. Minnis had a career-high six service aces in the win over Saginaw Valley State .......... Freshman Brittany Henson recorded her first career kill in Saturday's contest against the Cardinals .............. Freshman setter Ashley Green has compiled 20 or more assists in each of the past nine contests ............ The Bulldogs are 25-7 in the first two games of matches this year .......... In three-game matches, FSU is 8-0 ............ Dating back to last season, FSU has won 23-straight three-game matches.

Three Key Matches - FSU will play three key road matches this week. Entering Tuesday's match at Grand Valley State, the Bulldogs trail the Lakers 39-35 in the all-time series. In Allendale, the Lakers hold a 25-23 advantage. Against Ashland, FSU owns a 6-1 series edge and has won three of four meetings in Ohio. Ferris State is 2-1 overall at Findlay and has a 3-1 series lead. Head coach Tia Brandel is 3-7 against Grand Valley State, 4-1 versus Ashland and 3-1 against Findlay during her career. During the 2000 campaign, the Bulldogs lost two matches against Grand Valley State. FSU won 3-0 at Ashland, but suffered a 3-2 setback at Findlay. Grand Valley State enters Tuesday's match ranked 17th nationally with a 14-2 mark. Ashland is 7-11 overall while Findlay is 13-3 entering the week. Both GVSU and Findlay are 5-0 in GLIAC play.

Increasing Career Numbers - Junior Kate Pickvet is closing in on several key career marks. Entering Tuesday's match at Grand Valley State, Pickvet is 15 kills away from recording her 650th career kill. She needs 27 digs to notch her 300th career dig and only 37 blocks to surpass the 200 career blocks mark. The 5-11 junior ranks third on the squad with 148 kills (2.64 kpg).

An Important Assist - Senior Emily Williams notched her 200th career assist in Friday night's contest at Northwood as she recorded six assists and a kill in one game. Against Saginaw Valley State, Williams had seven assists and one kill. She ranks second on the squad in assists with 206. As a reserve last season, the 5-6 Williams compiled five assists in two matches.

Next Week - The Bulldogs travel to Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on Tuesday (Oct. 2) to face Lake Superior State at 7 p.m. FSU returns home to face Mercyhurst on Saturday (Oct. 6) at 12 p.m. and Gannon on Sunday (Oct. 7) at 1 p.m.