FSU Volleyball At A Glance - The Ferris State University women’s volleyball team will play three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) matches this week. The Bulldogs will entertain the nationally-ranked Grand Valley State Lakers this Tuesday (Oct. 8) in a 7 p.m. (EDT) encounter at FSU’s Ewigleben (pronounced A-VAH-glave-in) Sports Arena in Big Rapids, Mich. FSU will then visit the Gannon Knights this Friday (Oct. 11) for a 7 p.m. (EDT) match at GU’s Hammermill Center in Erie, Pa. Ferris squares off against the Mercyhurst Lakers this Saturday (Oct. 12) at 1 p.m. (EDT) in Mercyhurst’s Athletic Center at Erie.

Bulldogs Continue Winning Streak - Ferris State improved to 7-0 in GLIAC play with three league wins last week (Oct. 1, 4-5). The Bulldogs defeated Lake Superior State by a score of 3-1 last Tuesday (Oct. 1) at LSSU’s Bud Cooper Gymnasium in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. FSU, which has won seven consecutive matches to date, then handed Ashland a 3-0 setback last Friday (Oct. 4) in Big Rapids. Ferris, presently 16-2 overall, dealt nationally-ranked Findlay a 3-1 loss last Saturday (Oct. 5) at Big Rapids. The Oilers entered the contest ranked 19th nationally in the latest (Oct. 1) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II poll while the Bulldogs were listed among others receiving votes with six points. The next poll is slated to be released this Tuesday (Oct. 8).

Last Season - Ferris State concluded the 2001 campaign with a 21-11 overall record, which included a second-place tying 12-6 GLIAC North Division finish. The Bulldogs advanced to the GLIAC Tournament championship match (11/10/01) for the third time in the last four seasons and dropped a 3-0 decision versus Northwood.

The 30th Season Of Bulldog Volleyball - The 2002 campaign marks the 30th anniversary of the Ferris State women’s volleyball program. Since the program’s inception in 1972, the Bulldogs have compiled a 644-371 (.634) overall record. Ferris has won eight GLIAC titles, made 10 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances and registered 22 winning seasons in its previous 29 campaigns.

Another Great Start - Ferris State tied a school record for most wins through 18 matches with last Saturday’s victory over Findlay. The Bulldogs also opened the season with a 16-2 mark in 1984, 1986, 1989 and 1990. The 1984 FSU squad won a NCAA-II record 46 consecutive matches en route to a 48-3 overall mark. Ferris has registered four unbeaten league finishes, including a school-best 16-0 record in 1990. FSU has presently won at least 15 of its first 18 matches in three of the past four campaigns to date.

Home Court Advantage - Ferris State is 207-55 (.790) at Ewigleben Sports Arena since 1981 and sports a 121-39 (.756) conference home mark during that span. The Bulldogs are 108-39 (.735) overall at home since 1990, which includes a 74-35 (.679) conference mark.

Big Home Match This Tuesday - Ferris and Grand Valley State share the GLIAC North Division lead with 7-0 league records entering this Tuesday’s showdown. The Lakers, currently 16-1 overall, are ranked fifth nationally in the latest AVCA poll. Grand Valley State holds a 40-36 series advantage and a 25-25 edge in Big Rapids heading into this Tuesday’s 77th series meeting. However, Ferris defeated GVSU 3-0 in the last meeting (10/25/01) at Big Rapids. FSU head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm has a current 4-8 career coaching mark against the Lakers, who have captured five of the past seven matches. The Bulldogs have won 13 of 21 contests versus GVSU at the Ewigleben Sports Arena, which includes a 4-2 edge in the past six meetings. The Lakers, who have won 14 consecutive matches to date, registered a 30-5 overall record during the 2001 campaign and claimed the NCAA-II Great Lakes Region championship.

Head Coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm - FSU head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm presently ranks second among Ferris’ all-time coaching victory leaders with a current 260-90 (.743) career mark. A 1990 Alma graduate, Brandel-Wilhelm guided the Bulldogs to an NCAA-II Tournament appearance in 1999. She previously spent three seasons as head coach at West Virginia Wesleyan (1993-1995) in Buckhannon, W.Va., where she led the Bobcats to a fifth-place finish at the 1995 NCAA-II Championships. Brandel-Wilhelm entered the 2002 season ranked 11th among NCAA-II’s winningest active coaches.

Bulldog Bites - Ferris is tied for fourth place in the NCAA-II Great Lakes Regional rankings released last Wednesday (Oct. 2). Findlay was listed first with Grand Valley State second and Lewis (Ill.) third. The next rankings will be released Wednesday, Oct. 16 ....... Sophomore middle/outside hitter Karla Fairbanks (Rogers City) has registered 10 or more kills in 17 consecutive matches to date. She tallied her 400th career kill at Lake Superior State ........... Sophomore setter Ashley Green (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) recorded her 1,600th career assist versus the Lakers last Tuesday ......... Ferris has presently won 13 of its last 14 GLIAC regular season matches dating back to last season ............. Freshman setter Emily Clouse (Tiffin, Ohio/Bascom Hopewell-Loudon) registered a personal career-high 34 set assists against Ashland ............ Senior outside hitter Erin Rind (Carol Stream, Ill./Streamwood) is three kills shy of attaining her 200th career kill ........ Senior outside hitter Stephanie Speed (Bothell, Wash.) needs seven digs to notch her 800th career dig ....... Freshman right-side hitter Sarah Miller (Bay City/John Glenn) garnered a personal career-best three digs versus Ashland ......... Senior middle hitter Angie Desmarais (Jackson/Lumen Christi) has recorded 10 or more digs in three consecutive outings to date.

Olds 13 Kills Away - Senior middle hitter Alaina Olds (Kingsley) presently has 987 career kills and is 13 shy of becoming the 12th player in school history to record 1,000 career kills. Olds, a 2001 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-Great Lakes Region First-Team selection, has registered at least one kill in 66 consecutive appearances. The 2001 FSU Bulldog Award recipient has garnered 10 or more kills in 13 consecutive matches and has recorded a double-double (kills & digs) in eight of her last 13 contests. The 5-11 Olds, a second-team 2001 Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region pick, is both Ferris’ kills (4.25 kpg) and blocks (1.29 bpg) leader this season. She currently ranks fourth among FSU’s career leaders in attack percentage (.273). Olds notched her 400th career block against Ashland and recorded her 500th career dig at Lake Superior State. She currently has 404 career blocks and needs 39 more to move into a tie for fifth place with Laura Lee (443; 1986-89) on Ferris’ career blocks leaders list.

Weekend Preview - Ferris State will travel to Erie, Pa., this weekend to face league foes Gannon and Mercyhurst.

Gannon: Ferris and Gannon will square off for the 11th time this Friday with FSU holding a 6-4 series advantage. In the last meeting (10/7/01), the Knights recorded a 3-1 win at Big Rapids. FSU head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm currently has a 5-2 career coaching record against GU. Gannon, which has won two of the past three contests, holds a 2-2 all-time record versus FSU at Erie. The Knights registered a 12-13 overall record during the 2001 campaign. Gannon improved to 9-5 overall and 5-2 in GLIAC action this season as a result of claiming a 3-0 road decision last Saturday (Oct. 5) at Wayne State.

Mercyhurst: FSU maintains a 9-0 series edge heading into this Saturday’s meeting against Mercyhurst. The Bulldogs defeated the Lakers 3-0 in the last meeting (10/6/01) at Big Rapids. Brandel-Wilhelm currently holds an 8-0 career coaching mark versus Mercyhurst. The Bulldogs own a 5-0 series edge in Erie. MC is presently 15-3 overall and 7-1 in GLIAC action heading into this Friday’s (Oct. 11) home match versus Grand Valley State after recording a 3-0 victory at Hillsdale last Saturday (Oct. 5). The Oilers recorded a 19-16 overall record during the 2001 campaign and placed second in the GLIAC’s South Division with a 10-7 league mark.

Between The Lines - FSU head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm will make regular appearances throughout the season on “Between The Lines,” a weekly half-hour television show devoted to Ferris State Athletics. The program, which is hosted by Ira Childress and produced by FSU’s media productions department, airs each Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) on WFQX-Fox 33.

FSU On The Internet - Ferris State University Athletics’ official web site can be found at www.ferris.edu/sports. The site features information on all of FSU’s varsity athletics programs including rosters, schedules and the latest results.

Looking Ahead - The Bulldogs will face the Hillsdale College Chargers in league action Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. (EDT) in HC’s Jessie Phillips Arena at Hillsdale, Mich. FSU will then battle the Wayne State Warriors in a 1 p.m. (EDT) conference encounter Saturday, Oct. 19, at WSU’s Matthaei Complex in Detroit, Mich.