SAULT STE. MARIE - Lake Superior State relied upon one of its best defensive efforts of the season to battle 12th-ranked Ferris State through four sets during Saturday's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference volleyball match. The GLIAC leading Bulldogs hung on to win 25-18, 26-24, 23-25, 25-23.

LSSU (8-18 overall, 5-13 GLIAC) totaled 82 digs and 60 kills during the match. Both totals are the Lakers' second-highest single-match totals of the season and their best effort against a regionally-ranked opponent. Senior libero Brittany Newberry led the defense with 24 digs and set a new career record of 1,851 digs. She passed Kristy James '04, who held the previous record of 1,840 digs.

Four Lakers reached double figures in kills against FSU. Junior Nikki Stratelak totaled 13, and sophomore Emily Snyder followed with 11. Sophomore Billie McLeod and senior Janelle Balkwill added 10 each. Balkwill also contributed 24 assists, and junior Maryloud Drobish had 23.

Six different Lakers contributed blocks. Lindsay McLeod led with two block solos and three assists. Billie McLeod followed with four block assists.

Ashley Huntey totaled 22 kills, and Anne Sutton added 16 to lead Ferris State (24-2 overall, 18-1 GLIAC). The Bulldogs totaled 67 kills and 91 digs. Sutton also had three block solos and one assist.

LSSU concludes its season with a 2 p.m. match Sunday against Saginaw Valley State. The Lakers will pay tribute to seniors Jeanna Radzinski, Lindsay McLeod, Balkwill, Newberry and Jessica Murawski after the match.

LSSU vs. FSU Boxscore