Dec. 5, 2024 - Updated: Dec. 6, 2024

Nowicki, top-ranked Ferris State volleyball team say boisterous Bulldog Arena is an advantage during postseason competition

Fans have been pouring into Ferris State University’s Bulldog Arena, and with good reason, as it is home to the top-ranked volleyball team, the newly crowned regular-season and tournament champions of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

The second-year Bulldog Arena gets loud with fans positioned close to the court. That's fine by the players, like senior outside hitter Claire Nowicki, who had nine kills in Ferris State's 3-0 win over Grand Valley State University on Nov. 24 in the emotionally charged GLIAC Tournament championship match.

"All the energy that we have in this arena when it's packed, is something we know we can use to our advantage. We love it," said Nowicki. The Clarkston native was a first-team all-state performer who was also honored by The Detroit News as one of the state's best.

"We practice with loud music to make sure we're getting used to what it's going to be like during matches when it's packed and loud. We're used to it being loud in here."

The Bulldogs caught fire in defeating the Lakers 25-18, 25-17, 25-1 before 1,150 fans jammed into the arena. Included in that fired-up crowd was a vocal student section that included members of the Ferris State football team, the nation's top-ranked squad.

"We use the energy to our advantage during matches," said the 5-foot-11 Nowicki, who earned All-GLIAC first-team honors in 2024 and has 225 kills, ranking her second on the team. "Winning the GLIAC Tournament in the environment we had was a cool opportunity because we know we're going to see more good teams in tough environments in the future."

These experienced Bulldogs take pride in not getting rattled. Against nationally ranked GVSU, the Bulldogs trailed 6-0 in the first set but rallied to outscore the Lakers 25-12 for the balance of the set.

"We work on situations in practice, and that helps prepare us so that when we're down, we have the confidence that we've pushed ourselves to get better every day," said Nowicki, who totaled 386 kills as a sophomore, in 2022, and 309 kills as a junior, in 2023. "It was a matter of us doing what we do in matches in practice and practicing like we know we have to play in matches. In matches, the little things are important. We knew we had to stay focused and confident."

Nowicki is one of eight seniors on this Bulldog roster, joined by Leah Bylut, Tatum Outlaw, Olivia Henneman-Dallape, Chelsie Freeman, Kaylee Maat, Syann Fairfield and Hannah Tecumseh.

"Being a part of this class is amazing," said the high-jumping and hard-hitting Nowicki. "We've gone through it all since, you know, sophomore year when we graduated a bunch of people from our team. So, we know each other well, how each other works, and what we need to do working together and communicating effectively."

The Bulldogs started this season with a big road win over nationally third-ranked West Texas A&M on the road. The Ferris State team has continued growing since the opener. After being ranked No. 18 early in the season the team rose quickly to the top.

"We have a fire for just winning and focusing on the next ball, and we don't accept losing," Nowicki said.

At 32-0 this season, following a 3-0 sweep of Missouri-St. Louis to start NCAA Division II Midwest Region Tournament play on Thursday, Dec. 5, the Bulldogs haven't focused on that unblemished record. Instead, they have locked in on what they need to do to keep playing together as a volleyball family.

"The (undefeated) record is not something we've focused on at all," Nowicki said. "The record is a bonus, but it was never a goal to go undefeated. It's how things have played out to this point: how hard we've worked and how well we've played together. It's a privilege to play in December and we want to keep playing."

The Bulldogs continue NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Tournament play today, Dec. 6, as they take on Lewis (Ill.) at 7 p.m. in Bulldog Arena. The winner advances to the regional championship match at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, playing the winner between the second seed, Grand Valley State, and the six seed, Findlay (Ohio).