BIG RAPIDS, Mich - The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team fell, 3-2, to the Ferris State Bulldogs in GLIAC play. The Cardinals fall to to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in the GLIAC.

The first set was evenly matched as the Cardinals and the Bulldogs were knotted, 10-10. SVSU hit a rough patch defensively and found themselves in a four point deficit as the Bulldogs took the lead, 16-12. SVSU would go on to score the next six points and take the lead over the Bulldogs, 20-15. Hannah Tabit spread the ball to three different players in the six point comeback. The Cardinals would close set one, 25-20, on a kill from Sarah Tabit. 

Much as the start of set one, set two opened with back-and-forth scoring that would result in a, 12-12, tie. The Cardinal offense fell off course as the Bulldogs made defensive adjustments and took the lead, 21-14. This seven point deficit was too much for the Cardinal offense to overcome and SVSU fell, 25-15, to the Bulldogs in set two. With the dropped set, the match was knotted, 1-1.

The Bulldogs would take an early five point lead over the Cardinals as the scoreboard read, 6-1. The Bulldogs would go on to increase that lead to eight as they led, 16-8. The Cardinals would make a late push scoring eight points to make the score, 20-17, in favor of the Bulldogs. The Cardinals comeback would not be completed as the Bulldogs closed set three, 25-20.

The fourth set opened with back-and-forth scoring and was knotted early at, 7-7. The Cardinals would take a small lead as Hannah Tabit set-up Emily Friesl for two kills that would put SVSU up, 10-8. The Cardinals would keep this two point lead through the remainder of the set as SVSU took set four, 25-23. With the match knotted, 2-2, the match would be settled in the fifth set.

The Cardinals took an early lead, 5-3, in the fifth set over the Bulldogs. Ferris State responded by scoring four in-a-row to regain the lead, 7-5. SVSU knotted the match, 9-9, on a block by Emily Friesl and Maria Vukaj. The Bulldogs would take a, 14-11, lead which SVSU responded to with kills by Sarah Tabit and Maria Vukaj to bring the Cardinals to within one, 14-13. Though the Cardinals fought back, the Bulldogs would take the fifth set, 15-13, and win the match, 3-2.

Inside the Box Score

• Sarah Tabit led the Cardinals in kills with 21, added 19 digs, and had one block. With her performance in the match Tabit earns 'Player of the Match' honors.
• Emily Friesl recorded 17 kills for SVSU and had a team high hitting percentage of .289 with one assist and three blocks.
• Hannah Tabit led the team in assists with 53, added four kills, and one service ace offensively. Tabit also recorded 16 digs and one block for the Cardinals. 

From Head Coach Will Stanton

"We worked hard and did a lot of good things defensively, but our offense was not consistent enough to keep Ferris off balance. We allowed them to run their offense too often and could not serve them tough enough."

Up Next... 

The Cardinals are back in action Saturday (Nov. 2) as they take on the Northwood Timberwolves. First serve is set for 5:00 p.m. You can follow the action live at svsucardinals.com.