Bulldogs Cruise Past Tritons To Midwest Regional Championship

Postgame Highlights 
Postgame Press Conference 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball team swept the Missouri St. Louis Tritons 3-0 in the semifinal round to advance to the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship match with the triumph inside Jim Wink Arena on Friday (Dec. 3).

Ferris State, which won 25-15, 25-21, 25-18, advances to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen on its 22nd consecutive victory to move to 27-4 overall. 

The Bulldogs hit a blistering .354 and held the Tritons to a .120 mark on the day. Ferris State freshman middle hitter Olivia Henneman-Dallape had a team-best 11 kills while senior outside hitter Katie O'Connell marked 10. Ferris State freshman outside hitter Claire Nowicki chipped in eight kills on the day.

Defensively, O'Connell had 11 digs while senior libero Nina Gorgijevska picked up nine. At the net, Ferris State dominated with 10.5 total blocks to just one for UMSL.

Bulldog senior middle hitter Samantha Hermann had five total blocks while Henneman-Dallape and freshman outside hitter Keona Salesman finished with four apiece.

The Tritons were led by Charlotte Richards and her 13 kills. Ferris State held all other Missouri-St. Louis attackers in single digits. 

Ferris State freshman setter Kaylee Maat had a match-best 35 assists, and tied for the team lead in service aces (3) with junior defensive specialist Brooke Norder for the mark. Ferris State had nine service aces to UMSL's two on the evening.

The Bulldogs, hosts of the NCAA Tournament's Midwest Regional, are at home inside Jim Wink Arena on Saturday (Dec. 4) where they'll face off with the Hillsdale College Chargers, who upset #2 seeded Michigan Tech in the first Regional Semifinal earlier on Friday (Dec 3).

The sweep is Ferris State's first in a Midwest Regional Semifinal since a 2016 sweep of Saginaw Valley State.

Ferris State meets Hillsdale for the second time this season, looking for a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight and their first Regional Championship since 2013. Match time is set for 5:00 pm ET.