Aug. 22, 2024
Ferris State volleyball team picked to be tops in GLIAC in preseason coaches poll
The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad has been picked to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference crown again this year in a preseason coaches poll.
The league announced the results of its 2024 preseason and Ferris State was projected to be first overall of the 11 league-playing schools. The Bulldogs totaled 97 points and seven first-place votes in voting by the conference head coaches.
Behind Ferris State was Grand Valley State University in second place with 94 points and the remaining four top votes. Michigan Tech University came in third, followed by Parkside University, and Northern Michigan University in the top five.
Ferris starts the 2024 campaign with big expectations as the Bulldogs return nearly every piece from last season's squad that reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen and the Midwest Region Championship match for the third consecutive season, including eight seniors.
This fall will represent the 52nd season for Ferris State volleyball and Ferris State has won at least 20 matches in a campaign 21 times in 28 seasons under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. The Bulldogs also made their 26th consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearance last fall and have made 12 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths to date while advancing to the regional semifinals or beyond 11 of the last 12 years.
Last season, Ferris State closed the campaign with a 27-8 overall record and claimed the GLIAC Tournament Championship along with making the school's 27th all-time trip to the national tournament.
Ferris State returns five All-GLIAC honorees from a year ago, including standout setter Kaylee Maat, of Hudsonville, who was named GLIAC Setter of the Year, along with the reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year in hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape, of Oregon, Ohio.
The Bulldogs had three All-GLIAC First Team picks last season, including Maat and Dallape along with outside hitter Claire Nowicki of Clarkston. All three were also named to the 2023 American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America Team.
Meanwhile, libero Leah Bylut of Palos Heights, Ill. and middle hitter Syann Fairfield from North Muskegon were both chosen to the All-GLIAC Second Team.
The Bulldogs will open the 2024 season at the West Texas A&M University Invitational on Sept. 5-7 in Canyon, Texas.
Ferris State will host NCAA Division I Central Michigan in an exhibition match on Saturday, Aug. 31 starting at 4 p.m. inside Bulldog Arena, 210 Sports Drive.