The Ferris State University women's soccer and volleyball squads, which are both coming off championship seasons last fall, will begin preparations for the 2023 campaign as both squads officially report for the start of fall preseason workouts this weekend.

Both teams will hold their first official practice and training sessions on Monday following initial testing and official check-in activities.

Along with the normal preseason practices, both squads will also participate in several scrimmages before preseason camp comes to a close. Team meetings, presentations and conditioning are also part of the various scheduled preseason activities.

The Ferris State women's soccer program, which reached the NCAA Division II Final Four for the first time in school history last season, has earned recognition as one of the country's top teams heading into the fall 2023 campaign as the Bulldogs were listed sixth in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason National Rankings. The 2023 fall season will represent Ferris State's 25th season of intercollegiate competition.

The Bulldogs, who reached the NCAA Tournament for the third time in program history a year ago, will embark on a challenging 18-game regular-season slate, which includes nine home contests at the Bulldog Soccer Field. Ferris State will open its regular-season action at home on Thursday, Aug. 31, against Maryville (Mo.) in regional play starting at 1 p.m. (ET). FSU will host another regional opponent and former conference member in Northwood on Sunday, Sept. 3, as part of the opening weekend homestand. The Bulldogs will honor last year's Midwest Regional Championship squad as part of the contest.

The Bulldogs will begin GLIAC play on the road at GVSU on Friday, Sept. 15, in Allendale. The first conference home tilt is against Northern Michigan on Sept. 22. Last year, FSU won its first-ever NCAA Regional Championship and earned a national quarterfinal win to move on to the NCAA D2 National Semifinals for the first time in the program's third national tournament appearance. FSU claimed four postseason victories along the way and went 11-3-5 in its final 19 games of the year.

Meanwhile, the Bulldog Volleyball squad won the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Regular Season and Tournament Championships while making a trip to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen and the Midwest Regional Championship match a year ago. FSU closed the year with a 26-10 overall record and went 16-2 in GLIAC regular-season play.

The Bulldogs will open the 2023 fall slate at home, hosting their annual Ferris State Invitational on Sept. 1-2 at the new Bulldog Arena along with Jim Wink Arena inside the Ewigleben Sports Complex. FSU opens play versus Thomas More and Minnesota-Duluth on Sept. 1 at 11 a.m. (ET) and 5 p.m. (ET), respectively. This fall will represent the 51st season for Ferris State Volleyball and FSU has won at least 20 matches in a campaign 20 times in 27 seasons under head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm. The Bulldogs also made their 25th consecutive GLIAC Tournament appearance last fall and has made 11 consecutive NCAA Tournament berths to date while advancing to the regional semifinals or beyond 10 of the last 11 years.

Stay tuned to FerrisStateBulldogs.com for complete coverage of both teams!