Bulldogs Stun Grand Valley; Clinch GLIAC Tournament Berth

Oct. 28, 2001

Last Weekend - Ferris State upset nationally-ranked Grand Valley State this past Thursday (Oct. 25) at Ewigleben Sports Arena in front of a season-high home crowd of 413. With the win, FSU improved to 18-9 overall and 11-5 in league play. FSU has now won seven of its past eight matches and has clinched a berth in the GLIAC Tournament slated for Nov. 8-10 at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Mich. The Bulldogs need two additional wins to post their fourth-consecutive 20-win campaign.

FSU Upsets Grand Valley - Thursday night's win over Grand Valley State ended GVSU's school-record 22-match winning streak and handed the Lakers their first conference loss of the season (15-1). With the win, FSU improved to 10-2 at home this year, marking the fourth-consecutive season the Bulldogs have recorded 10 home wins or more. FSU also ended Grand Valley's three-match series winning streak with the victory.

Grand Valley State entered the match with a 24-2 overall record and was ranked 15th nationally in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top 25 poll.

Coupled with FSU's 3-0 victory at Northern Michigan (Oct. 20), the Bulldogs have now won two-consecutive matches against nationally-ranked foes. Ferris State has shutout each of its past four opponents. In the latest Great Lakes Regional rankings (Oct. 23), Grand Valley State tops the list with Ferris State tied for fifth.

Olds Leads Bulldog Attack - Junior Alaina Olds paced the Bulldog attack against Grand Valley State as she totaled a team-high 14 kills on 29 attacks (.345). Last week's (Oct. 22) GLIAC North Division Player of the Week, Olds also had six digs and two total blocks in the win. She has reached double-figures in kills in each of the past six matches and 21 times overall this season. The 5-11 Olds has recorded a kill in each of her past 43 outings and leads the Bulldogs with 340 total kills (3.51 kpg). She needs three blocks to notch her 300th career block and is 19 digs away from earning her 300th career dig.

Minnis Earns Big Block - Ferris State senior Erin Minnis compiled her 400th career block in the win over Grand Valley State as she tallied eight kills, 12 digs and seven total blocks in the Bulldog victory. Minnis has 35 solo blocks this season and is nine away from posting the fifth-best single-season solo block total in school history. Her 35 solo blocks this year are the most recorded by a Bulldog since former player Patti Stirling registered 37 during the 1993 campaign. Minnis is two service aces away from her 100th career ace.

Speed Continues Solid Play - Junior Stephanie Speed totaled 10 digs in Thursday's win and continues to lead the Bulldogs with 311 digs (3.14 dpg). She has reached double-figures in digs in each of the past eight matches and has compiled 10 digs or more in 17 matches this season. She needs a single kill to register her 250th career kill and has posted five double-double (kills and digs) efforts this year.

Bulldog Bites - Freshman setter Ashley Green is ranked seventh in assists in GLIAC play at 9.88 assists per game ........ The win over GVSU was FSU's 625th all-time win ........... Senior Erin Minnis has appeared in 336 of the past 337 Bulldog games and has a kill in 91-straight outings ............. The Bulldogs have won the first game in 25 of 27 matches this year .......... Over the past two years, Ferris State is 28-1 in three-game matches .......... Head coach Tia Brandel is nine wins away from registering her 250th career victory ............. The Bulldogs have now won 13 of 21 meetings against GVSU at Ewigleben Sports Arena ....... Junior Angie Desmarais is 14 digs away from her 200th career dig ......... Alaina Olds is 46 kills away from her 700th career kill ............ Minnis needs 124 kills to move into 10th place on the all-time Bulldog chart ...... Minnis ranks second among the conference leaders in blocks (1.29 bpg) while Olds is third (1.27 bpg) ........ Olds is seventh in the GLIAC in kills (3.51 kpg) ........ FSU is second on the GLIAC charts in total blocks (2.77 bpg) ...... Senior Emily Williams needs one dig to post her 100th career dig and 12 assists to reach her 300th career assist.

Bulldogs Host Division Foes - Ferris State will host GLIAC North Division foes Saginaw Valley State and Northwood this week at Ewigleben Sports Arena. Earlier this season, FSU handled SVSU 3-0 in University Center, but dropped a 3-2 decision against Northwood in Midland. The Bulldogs hold a 35-8 advantage in the all-time series with Saginaw Valley State and are 20-13 versus Northwood. At Ewigleben Sports Arena, Ferris State has a 15-2 series edge against the Cardinals and are 10-5 all-time against the Timberwolves. Under head coach Tia Brandel, FSU is 8-3 versus SVSU and is 5-9 against Northwood. The Cardinals enter the contest with a 9-23 overall record while Northwood is 20-7. In conference play, Saginaw Valley State is 2-13. Northwood is fourth in the North Division with a 11-5 conference record.

Pickvet Closing In - Junior Kate Pickvet is three digs away from recording her 200th career dig and needs 16 blocks to register her 200th career block. Pickvet has recorded a kill in each of her past 52 career outings. Against the Lakers, Pickvet had seven kills on 17 attacks (.235). She has reached double-figures in kills 11 times this season.

Big Month for Ferris - During the month of October, the Bulldogs compiled a 7-1 mark and defeated two nationally-ranked opponents. The lone loss during the month of play was a 3-1 defeat versus Gannon at Ewigleben Sports Arena on Oct. 7. Since that loss, the Bulldogs have won five-consecutive matches. Five of FSU's seven wins during the month of play were shutouts (3-0).

Next Week - Ferris State will take part in the 2001 GLIAC Tournament at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Mich. Opening round play is slated to begin on Thursday (Nov. 8) with the championship match scheduled for Saturday (Nov. 10).