Grand Valley State fell in the opening round of the GLIAC Tournament against West Michigan rival Ferris State on Wednesday (Nov. 16), as the Bulldogs prevailed in another hard-fought postseason contest between the two schools, 3-1. The Lakers took the second set and pushed #19 FSU to the limit in set four before ultimately falling by scores of 21-25, 25-19, 19-25, and 23-25. 

There were four GLIAC quarterfinal matches on Wednesday night; three of the four matches went the full five sets and it appeared as if the GVSU-Ferris State contest was heading in that same direction. After the teams split the opening two sets, the Bulldogs took the third frame and prevailed in the fourth set despite a 20-18 deficit.

With the loss, eighth-seeded GVSU's season ends with a 15-14 record. Top seed Ferris State (26-5) advances to the GLIAC semifinals on Saturday against fourth-seeded Saginaw Valley State, as the Cardinals outlasted Michigan Tech in five sets on Wednesday. The other semifinal pits third-seeded Ashland against seventh-seed Lake Erie, which upset second seed Findlay on the road in five sets.

On Wednesday night, the Lakers tallied a better hitting percentage (.138 to .129), although FSU held a 51-43 edge in kills. The Bulldogs committed 31 hitting errors, compared to 23 for GVSU. Ferris State also led in digs (71-64), assists (49-39), blocks (7-5), and aces (8-2).

Freshman Jayci Suseland led Grand Valley State with 14 kills and added five digs and a block, while sophomore Shannon Winicki totaled 10 kills and hit .308 in the match. Middle blocker Staci Brower provided nine kills, five digs, and a pair of block assists.

The Lakers held a 10-7 lead in the opening set on a Suseland kill, but the Bulldogs put together an 11-1 run to open up an 18-11 advantage in the frame. GVSU, however, fought back and chipped away at the deficit. Trailing 22-15, the Lakers scored five consecutive points, forcing four FSU errors and using a Winicki kill to make it 22-20. Another Winicki kill kept it tight at 23-21 before Ferris State notched the final two points to take the set.

It was GVSU that used a 6-0 run early in set two to grab a 6-2 cushion; four of those points came on Bulldog errors, along with kills from Suseland and sophomore Jillian Butsavich. The lead was 13-10 when Winicki and Suseland put down consecutive kills and sophomore Kaylene Norris served an ace. Ferris State would stay within striking distance, but Brower and junior setter Katie Olson notched back-to-back kills and the duo teamed together for a combined block two points later. At that point, GVSU was in front 22-13. Brower would add another kill and two more FSU errors gave the Lakers the 25-19 win and evened the match at one set apiece.

The Bulldogs raced out to a 14-5 edge in set three before GVSU scored five points in a row, including kills from Butsavich and Suseland, a Butsavich and Brooke Smith combined block, and another Norris ace. Grand Valley State could not get closer than the four-point deficit until 22-19 on a FSU error. From there, the Bulldogs scored the final three points to regain a lead in the match.

In the fourth and final set, Ferris State used three big runs to control the set. Butsavich and Suseland combined for a block on the opening point before Ferris State scored six consecutive points to take a 6-1 lead. A kill from Smith made the score 8-5, but FSU responded with a 5-0 run to open a 13-5 cushion. GVSU rattled off six consecutive points - including three Suseland kills and one from Winicki - to bring the Lakers within two at 14-12. A Suseland kill and two Ferris State errors actually put GVSU back on top 18-17; the Lakers extended that edge to 20-18 after a Brower kill. However, the Bulldogs scored the next five points to regain control at 23-20. Winicki would tally back-to-back kills and bring Grand Valley State within a point at 24-23, but a final kill from the Bulldogs ended the contest.

Olson handed out 24 assists, picked up 18 digs, and totaled three kills and a pair of block assists. Freshman Sydney Benchley totaled 15 digs and six assists, while sophomore Taylor Stewart added nine digs and six assists as well. Butsavich posted three kills and a pair of blocks, while Norris delivered both of the Lakers' service aces.

This was Grand Valley State's 20th consecutive appearance in the GLIAC Tournament and the 21st overall trip to the conference postseason. The Lakers are now 35-17 all-time in GLIAC Tournament play.