Ferris State Volleyball Sweeps Davenport In GLIAC Play

Postgame Highlights & Interview 
Postgame Interview - Lyndsey Urick 

BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad swept Davenport 25-14, 25-15, 25-12 on Thursday (Oct. 23) night at Ewigleben Sports Arena.

FSU dominated with a .356 hitting percentage, recording 46 kills and 67 digs. The home team also notched seven service aces against Davenport's three, securing a decisive victory.

Ferris State started the first set strong, taking an early lead with a service ace from Hayley Wegener and a kill by Maddy Vaara. Davenport briefly pulled ahead 3-2, but Ferris State quickly regained momentum. Key plays included a service ace by Gabby Piazza and multiple kills by Emma Bleecher and Emily May.

Wegener contributed significantly, assisting on several kills and adding one of her own. With a consistent performance throughout, Ferris State secured the set 25-14, concluding with a kill by Wegener.

The Bulldogs secured a decisive 25-15 victory over Davenport in the second set, with Piazza leading the charge with several key kills. Early on, Ferris State gained momentum through a kill by Piazza, followed by a service ace from Wegener, setting the tone for the set. Piazza continued her strong performance with multiple kills, supported by Wegener's assists, as FSU extended its lead. Despite a brief rally from Davenport, which included kills by Abby Alan and Sydney Swan, Ferris State maintained control and closed the set with consecutive kills by Piazza, the final point assisted by Wegener.

Ferris State capitalized on a string of early errors by Davenport, establishing a quick 4-0 lead in the third set, with the home team's Wegener playing a crucial role. May continued to dominate for Ferris State, contributing multiple kills to extend the lead to 21-10. Despite a few service errors from FSU, Davenport struggled to close the gap, with Swan and her teammates unable to maintain consistent scoring. The set concluded with a decisive service ace by Dylann Kelly, securing a 25-12 victory for Ferris State.

May led the Ferris State team with 12 kills, contributing significantly to the offensive effort. Wegener recorded 26 assists and added 13 digs, showcasing her versatility on the court. Hope Davies excelled defensively, accumulating 21 digs to anchor the backline. Bleecher also made an impact with nine kills and seven digs, while posting a hitting percentage of .500.

Alan led the Davenport team offensively, recording seven kills on 32 attempts with a hitting percentage of .188. She also contributed defensively with two digs and a block assist, amassing 7.5 points. Madison Berry was pivotal in setting up plays, tallying 17 assists across 70 attempts, along with nine digs. Hayley Carr delivered a strong performance at the service line, achieving three aces and adding 10 digs on the defensive end. Swan added to the team's efforts with five kills and five digs, contributing to the overall defensive stance.

Ferris State improved to 17-4 overall record and a 9-1 mark in the GLIAC.

The Bulldogs will host Purdue Northwest on Saturday (Oct. 25) at 5 p.m. (ET) inside Bulldog Arena.