ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the second consecutive year, defeating the University of Indianapolis 3-1 on Saturday (Dec. 6) to claim the D2 Midwest Regional Championship at the Mark Twain Building in St. Louis.

With the victory, Ferris State advances to the D2 Elite Eight slated to take place Dec. 11-13 in Sioux Falls, S.D. The official matchups and match times will be determined on Sunday.

FSU captured the regional crown for the second year in a row, beating the Greyhounds by scores of 25-17, 25-20, 23-25 and 25-15 to cap off an impressive three-day run in the regional tournament. The Bulldogs recorded 62 kills and 81 digs, led by a strong offensive and defensive performance. The Greyhounds' effort included 49 kills, but the Bulldogs' efficient attack percentage of .265 and seven service aces were decisive.

The first set of the match commenced with Ferris State taking an early lead, initiated by Emma Bleecher's service ace. The Bulldogs extended their advantage to 5-1, with contributions from Logyn Geren and Gabby Piazza. Indianapolis rallied back, closing the gap to 8-7 thanks to a series of kills from Paige Parlanti and Maddie Lynch. However, FSU regained control with Bleecher's offensive performance, including consecutive kills that helped push the score to 14-11. As the set progressed, Ferris State capitalized on several Greyhounds' errors, ultimately securing the set 25-17 following a service error by Indianapolis.

In the second set, Ferris State pulled ahead with a series of effective plays. Piazza contributed multiple key kills, including one from Hayley Wegener's assist that leveled the score at 6-6. The Greyhounds briefly regained the lead, but the Bulldogs responded with a 4-0 run, highlighted by an ace from Wegener, moving the score to 21-17 in their favor. Despite Lynch's efforts for UIndy, Ferris State closed out the set with a kill by Emily May, securing a 25-20 victory.

Indianapolis secured a narrow victory in the third set, overcoming the Bulldogs 25-23. The Greyhounds capitalized on a strong start, with Lauren Gips delivering multiple early kills, helping her team to an 8-1 advantage. Ferris State battled back, closing the gap to 14-11, spurred by a series of points from Piazza, including a service ace. Despite the Bulldogs' late push, including a kill by Piazza that brought the score to 24-23, Indianapolis clinched the set as FSU committed a service error on the final point. Carly Fonda's consistent setting played a pivotal role in the Greyhounds' victory, assisting on numerous key points.

In the fourth set, Ferris State built momentum with a series of decisive plays, including kills by May, who scored four times. The Bulldogs capitalized on Indianapolis' errors, with Piazza and Geren contributing key points, helping the team build a lead. FSU extended the advantage with service aces from Hope Davies and Geren. Despite the Greyhounds' attempts to close the gap, Ferris State maintained control and secured the set 25-15 with a final kill by Piazza, assisted by Wegener.

Bleecher recorded 12 kills and 19 digs, contributing significantly with a total of 16 points. Wegener facilitated the offense with 47 assists and added 20 digs. Piazza led the Bulldogs in scoring with 18 kills, finishing with 20 points. Geren added 10 kills and two service aces to her performance.

Gips made a significant impact for the Greyhounds with six total blocks, contributing to 11.0 points. Macy Bruton led the defensive effort with 23 digs, showcasing her ability to handle intense pressure. Fonda facilitated the offense effectively, recording 35 assists and helping maintain the team's rhythm. Parlanti was a key attacker, registering 12 kills on 42 attempts, alongside 13 digs, highlighting her dual role in attack and defense. Lynch added depth to the team's scoring with 10 kills and contributed four blocks, totaling 12.0 points.

Ferris State improved to 27-7 overall this year and won its third consecutive postseason match in the tournament. This year marks FSU's 14th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament and the 29th appearance in program history.

Four Bulldogs claimed all-tournament team honors in the regional event, including Piazza along with Wegener, Geren and sophomore Lyndsey Urick.