VOLLEYBALL: Ferris Gears Up For Weekend Matches Against Findlay, Hillsdale On The Road

BIG RAPIDS - Going on the road presents no shortage of challenges for Ferris State University as it heads south to take on Findlay and Hillsdale in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference volleyball action.

Head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm and the Bulldogs will be tested on the road this season as they try to keep pace with the top teams in the GLIAC. Ferris takes on the Oilers tonight at 7 p.m. in Croy Gymnasium in Ohio and then travels back to Michigan to face a very good Hillsdale team at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Jesse Phillips Arena.

I am looking forward to seeing how the Bulldogs handle this road trip as the conference title (for the regular season at least) remains up for grabs. Ferris, it appears, has as good a shot as anyone else to emerge ahead of the pack by the time this grueling season of volleyball is finished.

While Ferris certainly can not afford to overlook Findlay, it will certainly have to be on top of its game to knock off the host Chargers. Hillsdale is listed among other teams receiving votes in this week's (Sept. 28) American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll.

Rankings do not win matches ... play wins matches.

Here is the scouting report on this weekend's opponents as compiled by Ferris Athletics Communications:

Findlay: Ferris State presently holds an 8-4 series lead against Findlay after recording a 3-0 win over the Oilers a season ago (10/4) in Big Rapids. The Bulldogs are 4-3 in the last seven meetings between the two teams and FSU claimed a 3-1 victory back in the 2007 season (9/29) in its most recent appearance at Findlay. Ferris State has registered a 3-4 all-time ledger in away encounters versus the Oilers. UF, which is coached by 12th-year head coach Wick Colchagoff, are 4-11 overall and 1-6 in the GLIAC's South Division to date. The Oilers ended a six-match losing skid with a 3-0 home non-conference triumph over Lake Erie (Ohio) at Findlay, Ohio. Findlay currently sports a 3-4 home mark this season. Tia Brandel-Wilhelm vs. UF - 8-4.

Hillsdale: Ferris State owns a 47-11 advantage over Hillsdale in the all-time series, which includes prevailing in two of the last three outings between the two teams. FSU posted a 3-1 home decision over the Chargers last season (10/3). The Bulldogs are 24-9 overall in away/neutral site outings versus Hillsdale, which includes a 3-0 loss in their last appearance on the Chargers' court back in the 2005 campaign (10/14). The Chargers, who are currently 13-2 overall and 6-1 in the GLIAC's South Division, had their nine-match winning streak snapped with a 3-1 road league loss to Northern Michigan last Saturday (9/26) in Marquette, Mich. Hillsdale, under 14th-year head coach Chris Gravel, are 3-0 in home contests this fall. The Chargers are listed this week (9/28) among other teams receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches Top 25 Poll with 31 points. Tia Brandel-Wilhelm vs. HC - 13-4.

Noteworthy: Ferris setter Samantha Fordyce is leading the GLIAC in assists this season averaging 10.38 per contest and with a total of 664. Middle hitter Arielle Goodson (pictured in photo by Ed Hyde) ranks ninth in the GLIAC average 3.02 kills per contest.

Check out the Bulldog volleyball weekly game notes:
http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/wvball/2009-10/releases/09notes-matches18-19