FSU Headed to GLIAC Tournament

Nov. 5, 2001

Last Weekend - Ferris State concluded the regular season by splitting a pair of matches at Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. On Thursday (Nov. 1), FSU defeated Saginaw Valley State for the second time this season 3-0. The Bulldogs fell to GLIAC North Division rival Northwood 3-1 last Saturday (Nov. 3). Ferris State is 19-10 overall and 12-6 in GLIAC play entering this weekend's conference tournament. FSU won eight of its final 10 regular season matches.

GLIAC Tournament Up Next - Ferris State will take part in the seventh annual GLIAC Tournament this weekend at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek, Mich. The 2001 tournament features five teams from the GLIAC North Division and three teams from the South Division. This year marks the fourth-consecutive season the tournament has been played at Kellogg Arena.

Seven of the eight teams from the 2000 tournament return with Mercyhurst making its first-ever conference volleyball tournament appearance. The Lakers are 19-15 overall and 10-7 in GLIAC play.

FSU will be making its fourth-consecutive tournament appearance. Last season, the Bulldogs fell to Hillsdale in the opening round 3-2. Ferris State is 4-3 in GLIAC Tournament play under head coach Tia Brandel. FSU was the tournament runner-up in 1998 and 1999. Seven league teams are ranked among the top 10 in the latest NCAA Great Lakes Regional poll.

Olds Impressive Again - Junior Alaina Olds totaled 27 kills, 10 digs and 12 total blocks to lead FSU this past weekend. On Thursday, Olds tallied 10 kills, four digs and four blocks in the win over Saginaw Valley State. She added 17 kills, six digs and eight total blocks in Saturday's loss to Northwood. The 5-11 Olds has recorded at least one kill in 45-consecutive outings and leads the Bulldogs with 367 kills (3.53 kpg). She is nine digs away from notching her 300th career dig and needs 19 kills to compile her 700th career kill. Olds registered her 300th career block against Saginaw Valley State.

Numbers Rise for Minnis - Senior Erin Minnis is eight solo blocks away from posting the fifth-best single-season solo block total in school history. Entering the GLIAC Tournament, Minnis has 36 solo blocks this season. Minnis needs one service ace to compile her 100th career ace. A 2000 All-Great Lakes Region selection, Minnis became the 11th player in FSU history to eclipse the 1,000 career kills mark Oct. 19 against Michigan Tech and is 103 kills away from 10th place on the school career kills chart.

Seniors Recognized at Home Finale - Erin Minnis and fellow senior Emily Williams were recognized prior to their final home match last Saturday against Northwood. Williams tallied her 100th career dig and her 300th career assist in Thursday night's win over Saginaw Valley State and added a pair of assists on Saturday. Minnis had 14 kills and 10 digs in her final match at Ewigleben Sports Arena.

Bulldog Bites - FSU improved to 15-1 in three-game matches this season with Thursday's win ..... Alaina Olds has reached double-figures in kills 23 times this season, including each of the past eight outings ........... Junior Kate Pickvet registered her 750th career kill against Saginaw Valley State and her 200th career dig in Saturday's loss to Northwood ........... Pickvet has a kill in 54-straight outings ...........Erin Minnis needs four digs to record her 750th career dig .......... Minnis has appeared in 343 of the past 344 Bulldog games and has a kill in 93-straight matches ........... Minnis has 10 double-doubles (kills and digs) this season ......... Over the past two years, FSU is 29-1 in three-game matches ......... Junior Stephanie Speed recorded her 250th Bulldog kill against SVSU ........ Freshman Karla Fairbanks needs nine kills to post her 150th career kill .......... Freshman setter Ashley Green is averaging 8.57 assists per game ...... Junior Angie Desmarais tallied a team-high 12 digs on Saturday against Northwood to register her 200th career dig ........ FSU has won the first game in 26 matches this year (26-3).

GLIAC Tournament Notes - Ferris State will face Mercyhurst in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament at Kellogg Arena on Thursday. Earlier this season (Oct. 6), the Bulldogs defeated the Lakers 3-0 at Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids. FSU is 8-0 all-time versus Mercyhurst and 7-0 under head coach Tia Brandel. Should FSU advance to the second round, the Bulldogs would face the winner of Thursday's contest between Grand Valley State and Michigan Tech. GVSU is the defending GLIAC Tournament champion and is ranked first in the latest region poll. FSU split a pair of matches with the Lakers this season and swept Michigan Tech. Ferris State holds a 33-11 advantage in the all-time series with Michigan Tech, but trails Grand Valley State 40-36. The Bulldogs handed GVSU (17-1) its only GLIAC loss of the year on Oct. 25 (3-0).

Head Coach Tia Brandel - Head coach Tia Brandel needs a single win to compile her 125th victory at Ferris State. Now in her sixth season at the helm, Brandel has a FSU mark of 124-67 (.649). She is eight wins away from posting her 250th career victory. In nine seasons as a head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan (1993-95) and Ferris State, Brandel has a combined coaching record of 242-87 (.693).

Bulldogs One Win Away - Ferris State needs one win to post its fourth-consecutive 20-win campaign under Tia Brandel. The Bulldogs finished GLIAC play with a 12-6 record and have won 10 or more conference matches in five of the past six seasons. FSU finished the 2001 home campaign with an 11-3 overall record, marking the fourth-straight season the Bulldogs have won 10 or more home matches.

Next Week - Ferris State is fifth in the latest Great Lakes Regional rankings (Oct. 24). New rankings are slated to be released this Wednesday. Should FSU qualify, the Great Lakes Regional Tournament is slated for Nov. 15-17 at a site to be determined.