BLOG 6: Tough schedule will suit the young Bulldog spikers

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris State volleyball players Karen Thompson and Sarah Lark go up for a block during a home match to open the weekend in Big Rapids. (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – Ferris State has never been a program to duck tough competition on the volleyball hardwood court under the direction of head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm.

This season, however, the Bulldogs even invited some especially-tough competition to Big Rapids to participate in the Ferris State Invitational. Ferris emerged from its season-opening tournament with a 3-1 record – the lone blemish being a 3-1 loss (25-17, 23-25, 25-18, 25-14) to perennial power Minnesota-Duluth, the eighth-ranked Division II team in the nation. The Bulldogs were led by outside hitter Katie Edwards and setter Andrea Rich with 11 kills apiece while Arielle Goodson and Sarah Lark each finished with seven kills. Ferris bounced back, however, to sweep Urbana 3-0 (25-13, 25-9, 26-19) to begin the season 4-1. Edwards totaled 11 more kills while Goodson had nine and with five apiece were Rich and Amanda Kettlewell.

Edwards, Lark and Rich earned spots on the 12-player all-tournament team to represent the Bulldogs.

These are the kinds of matches that will suit Ferris well as the Bulldogs gear up for the high level of competition it will face in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

Beginning the season with a 4-1 record is a solid start for this squad as it prepares to head to Florida for the Tampa Classic (Sept. 5-6).

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com