Bulldogs Defeat Northern Michigan Wildcats In Five Set Thriller

Postgame Highlights & Interview 

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's volleyball team ground out a 3-2 victory (25-8, 32-34, 25-23, 23-25, 17-15) over the Northern Michigan Wildcats to open up the Spring 2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) season on Friday (Feb. 19) inside Ewigleben Arena.

Ferris State senior outside hitter Katie O'Connell led all Bulldogs with 19 kills on the dayn while junior middle hitter Samantha Hermann chipped in a match-best four service aces in the match.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a huge lead, hitting .348 in the opening set, while holding NMU to a -.121 hitting percentage.

Fom there, both teams hit similarly in each of the next three sets. The Wildcats pushed past the Bulldogs 34-32 in the second frame while the Bulldogs battled back ahead in the third set.

In the fifth set, Ferris State held a 14-10 lead. The Wildcats stormed back to tie the match, but Ferris State pulled ahead, making several key plays to take the match. 

At the net, the Bulldogs had 18 block assists, led by O'Connell's seven. Junior outside hitter Morgan Ross had three total blocks including two in the fifth set.

Defensively, Ferris State had 87 digs. O'Connell, Ross, and senior libero Nina Gorgijevska each had 17 for the Bulldogs.

Northern Michigan's Jacqueline Smith had 22 kills to lead the Wildcats in the match. Four Wildcats finished in double digits in kills, but the rest combined for four total kills (all for Lauren Van Remortel).

Ferris State frshman setter Kaylee Maat had 48 assists and two service aces in her collegiate debut. Freshman outside hitter Keona Salesman had nine kills in her first match with the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs are back in action against the Wildcats on Saturday (Feb. 20) at 2 p.m. (ET) inside the Ewigleben Sports Arena.