Bulldog Volleyball Pulls Out Five-Set Victory Over Saginaw Valley State To Open Weekend

Postgame Highlights & Interview

Big Rapids, Mich. - The nationally 20th-ranked Ferris State University women's volleyball squad opened a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) weekend homestand with a 3-2 win over Saginaw Valley State on Friday (Nov. 1) night inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena.

The Bulldogs fell behind early as SVSU took the opening set 25-22, but FSU claimed sets two and three by scores of 25-15 and 25-20, respectively. The Cardinals evened the contest with a 25-23 win in the fourth before the Bulldogs took the victory with a 15-13 decision in the deciding frame.

With the win, FSU improved to 18-5 overall and 10-2 in the GLIAC while the Cardinals fell to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in GLIAC action.

Senior standout Allyson Cappel led the way with a match-high 26 kills and 22 digs for Ferris State with senior setter Maeve Grimes compiling 61 assists. Junior hitter Katie O'Connell chipped in 17 kills and 28 digs in the victory.

The Bulldogs also got 12 kills from senior Courtney Brewer, who added 10 digs. Libero Nina Gorgijevska added 32 digs and Grimes had 10 in the win with freshman middle hitter Kira Merkle posting nine kills overall.

Ferris State hit .284 for the night and registered 108 total digs with 73 kills, eight block assists, five solo blocks and three aces.

SVSU was led by Sarah Tabit, who finished with 21 kills and 19 digs. Abbie Toland totaled 32 digs for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals were limited to a .191 hitting figure and netted 105 digs, 64 kills, 10 block assists and two aces.

Ferris State will play its final regular-season home match on Saturday (Nov. 2) as FSU hosts Lake Superior State starting at 3 p.m. (ET) in Big Rapids. It will be Senior Day as FSU honors its four seniors prior to the league encounter.