Bulldogs Announce 2001 Volleyball Schedule

The 10-week regular season slate includes 18 scheduled matches and three invitational tournaments. The Bulldogs will officially begin their 29th season of varsity competition at Ewigleben Sports Arena in Big Rapids on Aug. 24-25 as they host the annual Ferris State Invitational. In addition to FSU, eight other schools will take part including Lake Superior State, Wisconsin-Parkside, Saginaw Valley State, Wayne State, Indianapolis, St. Joseph's (Ind.), Fairmont (W.Va.) and Alderson-Broaddus (W.Va.).

Ferris State will travel to Seattle, Wash., to compete in the Seattle Pacific Invitational Aug. 30-Sept. 1. The third and final invitational is slated for Sept. 7-8 as FSU will journey to Highland Heights, Ky., for the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)-Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Tournament at Northern Kentucky.

"Our first three weekends will give us great games against very good teams," said head coach Tia Brandel, who has compiled a 105-57 coaching record (.648) in five seasons at Ferris State. "In Seattle, we'll play some of the best teams from the toughest region in the nation. We will play some of the top teams in both our region and the nation by the eighth of September."

The Bulldogs will open GLIAC action with a three-match homestand Sept. 14-16. FSU will battle Lake Superior State on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. (EDT), Michigan Tech on Sept. 15 at 4 p.m. (EDT) and Northern Michigan on Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. (EDT). The first conference road match is a trip to Midland to face Northwood on Sept. 21 at 7 p.m. The battle in Midland will begin a six-match road swing for the Bulldogs.

FSU will play five matches at home during the month of October. In that stretch, Ferris State will face Gannon (Pa.), Mercyhurst (Pa.), Hillsdale, Wayne State and archrival Grand Valley State. A trip to the Upper Peninsula to meet Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan is also on the October slate. The Bulldogs will host Saginaw Valley State on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. (EDT) and Northwood on Saturday, Nov. 3, at 4 p.m. (EDT) to conclude the regular season.

"Obviously, our conference schedule is always very tough and challenging," Brandel said. "I really think the changes we have made in our arena are going to help us prepare well in practice for those matches."

FSU recently installed a new wood-surface playing court at Ewigleben Sports Arena to replace the old tartan floor. Additional changes to the appearance of the arena are continuing in an effort to spruce up the 600-seat volleyball-only facility, which was built in 1981.

"It has really become a beautiful arena and we're hoping it will attract people to our matches and create a solid fan base for our program," Brandel said.

Since 1981, the Bulldogs have compiled a mark of 192-52 in 20 seasons of competition at Ewigleben Sports Arena after moving from the Health and Physical Education (HPE) Building. A year ago, FSU was 10-2 at home en route to posting a 21-9 overall mark and recording a fourth-place finish in the GLIAC North Division.

In compiling 21 victories during the 2000 campaign, the Bulldogs also recorded the 14th 20-win season in the 28-year history of the program. Three of those 20-win seasons have came under Brandel. The 2000 squad also recorded the best start in school history at 10-0.