BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to open its 2013 season on the road at the annual Ferris State University Bulldog Invitational.

The Cardinals opened play losing a 3-0 contest to the University of Missouri-St. Louis before falling by the same 3-0 count to the University of California (Pa.) in their second match of the day.

The Tritons took the first set by a close score in the first match, edging-out the Cardinals by a 25-23 margin.  UMSL would take the second set by a score of 25-19 before closing-out the match with another close win, 25-22.

Junior Kelsey Ferla (Lincoln Park, Mich./Gabriel Richard HS) led the offensive attack for SVSU in the first match, tallying 13 kills while hitting at a .500 percentage.  Ferla added three service aces to aide the Cardinal scoring effort.

Sophomore Morgan Eddy (Grand Blanc, Mich./Goodrich HS) posted four blocks on the defensive end for the Cardinals.  Sophomore Brooke Tiller (Maumee, Ohio/Maumee HS) recorded a match-high six digs in the contest.

In the second match against California (Pa.), the Cardinals lost three close sets.  The Vulcans claimed the first by a score of 25-20.  SVSU led by as many as six in the second set, but Cal came back to claim the frame by a 25-22 count.  

In the third, SVSU held a 22-20 advantage, but couldn't close things out as the Vulcans recorded five consecutive points to close-out the match by a 3-0 margin.

Ferla had a team-high six kills in the second match while freshman Kennedy Marker (East Lansing, Mich./East Lansing HS) and junior Makenzie Frodle (Fraser, Mich./Fraser HS) each posted five.  

Tiller posted match-highs in assists (8) and digs (7) for SVSU.

The Cardinals (0-2) return to play tomorrow (Sept. 7) at the tournament, as they take-on Cedarville (Ohio) and Indiana (Pa.).  The matches are set to begin at Noon and 5:00 pm, respectively.