Annual Upper Peninsula Trek Challenges Bulldogs

Oct. 15, 2001

Last Weekend - The Bulldogs swept GLIAC South Division foes Hillsdale and Wayne State this past weekend at Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids. On Friday night (Oct. 12), FSU defeated Hillsdale 3-1. The Bulldogs beat Wayne State in a Saturday afternoon contest by a score of 3-0. The Bulldogs have won four of their past five matches and are ranked ninth in the latest Great Lakes Regional rankings, which came out on Oct. 10. Ferris State is 15-9 overall and 8-5 in conference play.

FSU Records 200th Victory In Volleyball Arena - Ferris State notched its 200th victory at Ewigleben Sports Arena on Friday night as the Bulldogs defeated Hillsdale by a score of 3-1. With two wins this past weekend, FSU now has an all-time mark of 201-54 (.788) in 21 seasons of action at the 600-seat facility.

The arena, located on the southwest edge of campus, is named after former FSU President Dr. Robert L. Ewigleben. The 12th president in university history, Ewigleben served in the position from 1971-83.

The Bulldogs have compiled five undefeated home seasons (1984, '87, '89, '90 and '96) in the volleyball-only facility and have hosted three NCAA Division II Regional Championship Tournaments since moving from the Health and Physical Education (HPE) Building in 1981.

In six seasons under head coach Tia Brandel, Ferris State is 54-14 overall at Ewigleben Sports Arena. FSU is 9-2 at home this season and has won 10 home matches or more three-straight years.

Minnis Nine Kills Away - Senior Erin Minnis totaled 25 kills in two matches this past weekend and is only nine kills away from becoming the 11th player in school history to eclipse the 1,000 career kills mark. By recording 1,000 career kills, Minnis would be the third Ferris State player to surpass the century mark in the past three seasons. Former player Morgan Buckner (1997-00) recorded her 1,000th career kill during the 1999 campaign while Sarah VanderMolen (1999-00) notched her 1,000th kill as a senior last season. Minnis ranks second on the squad with 279 kills (3.17 kpg).

Olds Notches 600th Kill - Ferris State junior Alaina Olds posted her 600th career kill on Friday night as she led the Bulldogs with 21 kills in the win over Hillsdale. In two weekend matches, the 5-11 Olds compiled 31 kills. Olds has at least one kill in each of the past 40 matches and has reached double-figures in kills 18 times this season. She leads FSU with 301 kills (3.42 kpg) and 113 total blocks (1.28 bpg). Olds has two triple-double performances this year and was named the GLIAC North Division Player of the Week on Oct. 8.

Pickvet Improves Career Totals - Junior Kate Pickvet registered her 700th career kill in Friday night's win against Hillsdale. Pickvet has 10 or more kills in each of the past five matches. Against the Chargers, she totaled 11 kills on 27 attacks (.296). She needs eight digs to earn her 200th career dig and is 21 blocks away from posting her 200th career block. Pickvet has recorded a kill in each of her past 49 outings.

Bulldog Bites - Junior Erin Rind needs three digs to post her 200th career dig ............ Senior Emily Williams is two digs away from posting her 100th career dig and 13 assists shy of her 300th career assist ........ Senior Erin Minnis needs eight digs to register her 700th career dig and is 14 blocks away from recording her 400th career block ............. Junior Angie Desmarais needs 30 digs to notch her 200th career dig ............... Minnis notched her ninth double-double (kills and digs) of the season against Hillsdale and has reached double-figures in kills in six-straight matches .......... Minnis has appeared in 327 of the past 328 Bulldog games and has at least one kill in 88-straight outings .......... FSU improved to 43-9 all-time versus Hillsdale with Friday's win ........... The Bulldogs have won the first game in 22 of 24 matches this year and are 11-1 in three-game matches.

Headed To The Upper Peninsula - FSU will travel to the Upper Peninsula to face Michigan Tech and nationally-ranked Northern Michigan this weekend. The Bulldogs defeated Michigan Tech in five games on Sept. 15 in Big Rapids, but fell to Northern Michigan by a score of 3-1 the following day. Against Michigan Tech, FSU leads the all-time series 33-11. The Bulldogs have won 17 of 23 matches in Houghton and are 6-4 against the Huskies under head coach Tia Brandel. Ferris State holds a slim 32-31 advantage over Northern Michigan but are only 16-20 in Marquette. Brandel is 3-9 versus the Wildcats. Michigan Tech is 13-7 overall and 6-5 in GLIAC play entering the week while Northern Michigan has an 18-4 mark and is 9-3 in conference action. NMU is ranked 18th in the latest Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll (Oct. 9).

Speed Keeps Digging Away - Junior Stephanie Speed needs 20 digs to record her 500th career dig. A 5-8 outside hitter, Speed compiled her third double-double outing of the year against Hillsdale as she totaled 13 kills and 17 digs. She has reached double-figures in digs in each of the past five matches and 14 times overall this season. Speed leads FSU with 262 digs (2.91 dpg).

Brandel Nearing 250th Win - Head coach Tia Brandel is 12 wins away from posting her 250th career victory. Now in her sixth season with the Bulldogs, Brandel has a career mark of 238-86 (.735) in nine seasons as a head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan and Ferris State. She ranks second on the FSU career victory list with a record of 120-66 (.645) at Ferris State.

Next Week - Ferris State will play its final three matches of the regular season at Ewigleben Sports Arena starting next week. In their only match next week, the Bulldogs will host archrival Grand Valley State on Thursday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m.