ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Quincy University women's volleyball team continues postseason play as the Hawks prepare to compete in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Quarterfinal on Thursday, December 4th, when they square off with third-seeded and 20th-ranked Ferris State. First serve is scheduled for 11:00 AM in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Midwest Regional is being hosted by Missouri–St. Louis inside the Mark Twain Building. Quincy enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed with a 24-6 overall record and an 11-2 mark in GLVC play, while Ferris State arrives at the regional with a 24-7 record and a 13-3 conference finish in the GLIAC.

NCAA Tournament History

This appearance marks Quincy's fourth NCAA Tournament bid in program history, and the fourth consecutive season the Hawks have earned a spot in the national field, dating back to the 2022 season. The program is still searching for its second NCAA Tournament victory, owning a 1-3 all-time record in postseason play with the lone win coming in a dominant three-set sweep of Northern Michigan in 2022. For a program that has steadily climbed the national ladder in recent seasons, this year's group has another opportunity to make history against one of the Midwest Region's most decorated teams.

Ferris State, on the other hand, is no stranger to postseason success. The Bulldogs are making their 29th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and their 14th straight regional trip. A year ago, Ferris State won the Midwest Regional and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Over the past decade and a half, the Bulldogs have developed one of the most consistent programs in Division II, reaching at least the regional semifinals in 12 of the last 13 seasons. Entering this year's tournament, Ferris State holds a 28-29 record in NCAA Tournament play and continues to be a fixture on the national stage.

Matchup History

These two teams have only met three times, dating back to 2010, with Ferris State winning all three matchups. The most recent meeting came a year ago at the Midwest Region Crossover in a thrilling five-set battle. Quincy entered that contest ranked among the nation's elite with an 18-1 record, while Ferris State was 19-0 and ranked fourth in the country. The Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Bulldogs mounted a comeback, completing the reverse sweep in one of the region's most memorable matches of the season. Quincy enters this rematch with an opportunity to flip the script when it matters most.

About Our Opponent

Ferris State's pedigree is deeply rooted in program tradition. Since joining Division II in 1981, the Bulldogs have recorded 34 seasons with at least 20 wins, including each of the last 14 full seasons excluding the shortened 2020 campaign. Leading the program is head coach Tia Brandel-Wilhelm, who is in her 30th season at the helm. Under her leadership, Ferris State has compiled a 694-251 record, good for a .734 career winning percentage, and has become one of the premier programs in Division II volleyball.

Statistically, the matchup is as tight as any in the regional. Both teams are remarkably similar across the board, beginning with hitting percentage, where Ferris State holds a slight edge at .241 compared to Quincy's .240. The Hawks hold the advantage offensively, averaging 14.32 kills per set and 13.34 assists per set, while the Bulldogs average 13.64 kills and 11.86 assists. Ferris does hold the edge at the net with 2.19 blocks per set compared to Quincy's 1.75, while Quincy creates more pressure from the service line, averaging 1.81 aces per set against Ferris State's 1.54. Defensively, the Bulldogs post 18.21 digs per set to Quincy's 17.99, highlighting just how evenly matched the two programs are entering the postseason.

Ferris State's defensive identity is what separates them on a national level. The Bulldogs lead the GLIAC and rank 19th in the country in digs per set, while also ranking in the top four in the conference and inside the Division II top 50 in blocks per set, opponent hitting percentage, kills per set, and team hitting percentage. Their balanced attack and ability to extend rallies make them one of the most difficult teams in the Midwest Region to defeat.

Players to watch out for in the Bulldogs lineup include one of the primary weapons for Ferris State, sophomore outside hitter Gabby Piazza, who leads the Bulldogs with 411 kills and averages 3.70 kills per set. Piazza is the focal point of Ferris State's offense and has logged over 1,000 attack attempts this season, making her the clear go-to option in high-pressure situations. Behind her in the back row is redshirt freshman libero Hope Davies, who anchors the defense with 422 digs and a 3.87 digs-per-set average while also contributing at the service line with 29 aces. Directing the offense is sophomore setter Hayley Wegener, who enters the postseason with 1,091 assists and nearly 10 assists per set, but also impacts the match in all phases with 127 kills, a team-high 35 aces, and 72 total blocks.

A Dive into the Bracket

As part of the Division II Women's Volleyball Championship, the tournament consists of 64 teams across eight regional sites, with eight entrants in each of the Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West regions. Each regional is single-elimination with the winner advancing to the national championship site at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota from December 11–13.

The Midwest Regional is loaded with quality teams from top to bottom, with the schedule listed below:

Thursday, December 4

• 11:00 AM | #3 Ferris State vs. #6 Quincy
• 1:30 PM | #2 Ohio Dominican vs. #7 Rockhurst
• 4:30 PM | #1 Missouri–St. Louis vs. #8 Indianapolis
• 7:00 PM | #4 Wayne State vs. #5 Findlay

Semifinals – Friday, December 5

• 4:00 PM | Winner of #3/#6 vs. Winner of #2/#7
• 7:00 PM | Winner of #1/#8 vs. Winner of #4/#5

Championship – Saturday, December 6

• 3:00 PM | Midwest Regional Final

Quincy enters the tournament looking to earn the program's second NCAA Tournament win and its first against Ferris State. The Bulldogs will aim to continue their history of postseason success and make another deep national run. On Thursday morning in St. Louis, two evenly matched teams with championship aspirations collide, setting the stage for a showdown that promises to be one of the Midwest Region's must-watch battles.