The Ferris State University women's volleyball squad won its first-ever regular season match inside the new Bulldog Arena on Friday (Sept. 1) as FSU opened the 2023 season with a day one split in its own home invitational.

Ferris State dominated Thomas More (Ky.) in a 3-0 sweep in the first match played inside the facility before falling to nationally eighth-ranked Minnesota Duluth 3-1 in the nightcap. The two matches were the first for FSU this season.

The Bulldogs controlled play in the opener, winning the initial frame over Thomas More by a decisive 25-8 count. Ferris State followed with a 25-7 in the second set and completed the sweep with a 25-10 victory in the third.

FSU posted an impressive .523 hitting figure in the opener, posting 46 kills with only a single attack error on 86 attempts. Returner Olivia Henneman-Dallape led a balanced effort with 10 kills while Chelsie Freeman chipped in nine kills.

The Bulldogs also got 25 assists from setter Kaylee Maat to go with a team-high 12 digs by senior transfer Kenzy Corstange. Logyn Geren added eight digs in the win and Freeman posted three block assists.

FSU limited the opposition to a .072 attack total in the contest.

The competition stiffened in the final match of the day as Minnesota Duluth rallied from an early deficit to beat the Bulldogs 17-25, 25-19, 25-17 and 25-19. UMD hit .379 overall to a .272 showing for Ferris State.

Henneman-Dallape again led the Bulldogs with 12 kills while Claire Nowicki finished with 10 kills. Maat had 37 assists for FSU while libero Leah Bylut totaled 15 digs and Henneman-Dallape netted 10 digs. Freeman had both two solo blocks and two assists at the net for FSU.

The Bulldogs will return to the floor on Saturday with two more matches to wrap up the Ferris State Invitational. FSU hosts Adelphi (N.Y.) at 12 p.m. (ET) before concluding the opening weekend versus Indianapolis in regional action at 5:30 p.m. (ET).