Purdue University Northwest

The Purdue Northwest Lions battled the nation's top-ranked team and pushed Ferris State to the brink in a thrilling third set before ultimately falling 3-1 in GLIAC action on Saturday evening at Bulldog Arena. The Lions posted 50 kills and hit .263 against the undefeated Bulldogs, highlighted by a memorable 38-36 third-set victory.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (6-17, 3-10 GLIAC), Ferris State (24-0, 13-0 GLIAC)
• Location: Bulldog Arena – Big Rapids, Michigan
• Attendance: 987

Inside The Numbers

• Senior Anika Huelskamp (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard) led the Lions with 12 kills, nine digs, one service ace and one block.
• Junior Kennedy Rowzee (Rock Falls, Ill./Newman Central Catholic) added 10 kills while hitting .438 and contributed two block assists and a service ace.
• Freshman Ainsley Johnson (Springfield, Ill./Calvary) turned in a strong all-around performance with nine kills, three service aces and a block assist.
• Graduate student De'sheonna Foster (Evansville, Ind./Boonville) recorded six kills on a .400 hitting percentage and led Purdue Northwest with five total blocks.
• Freshman Addison Smith (Crystal Lake, Ill./Prairie Ridge) directed the offense with 36 assists while adding four kills, seven digs, three service aces and a block assist.
• Freshman Cecelia Goode (Warsaw, Ind./Warsaw) paced the defensive effort with a match-high 15 digs and added a service ace.
• The Lions finished with 50 kills, a .263 hitting percentage, seven service aces, six blocks, 39 assists and 48 digs.
• Ferris State was led by Gabby Piazza's 26 kills, while Hayley Wegener dished out 55 assists and Hope Davies collected 19 digs.

The Breakdown

• Ferris State opened the match by taking the first set 25-20, despite the Lions hitting an efficient .333 with 14 kills.
• The Bulldogs extended their advantage with a 25-18 victory in the second set, hitting .481 while recording 16 kills.
• Purdue Northwest delivered its best performance of the night in an unforgettable third set, outlasting Ferris State 38-36. The Lions totaled 18 kills in the frame and repeatedly answered match-point opportunities to keep the contest alive.
• The third set featured 74 combined points and showcased Purdue Northwest's resilience against the top-ranked team in the conference.
• Ferris State regrouped in the fourth set and secured the match with a 25-15 victory.
• The Lions challenged the undefeated Bulldogs throughout the evening, posting a .263 attack percentage against one of the nation's best defenses.
• Purdue Northwest recorded seven service aces and six blocks, keeping pressure on Ferris State in all four sets.
• Rowzee, Huelskamp and Johnson combined for 31 kills, while Smith orchestrated an offense that produced double-digit kills from three different attackers.
• Foster's five blocks helped the Lions remain competitive at the net against a Ferris State team that entered the match unbeaten at 24-0 overall.

Up Next

• Purdue Northwest continues their road trip when they travel to take on Saginaw Valley State on Friday, October 30 in GLIAC action. Game time is set for 4:00 PM CT in University Center, Michigan.