Sutton, Fordyce Among AVCA All-Midwest Region Selections

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Big Rapids, Mich. - Two members of the Ferris State University women's volleyball program have claimed 2012 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II All-Region accolades in an announcement made by the national organization.

Senior middle hitter Anne Sutton (Grand Rapids/Northview) was one of 14 individuals named to the All-Midwest Region First Team while senior setter Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) was tabbed among six honorable mention all-region recipients.

As a first team recipient, Sutton is now under consideration for AVCA All-America accolades, which will be announced in early December.

Sutton, who was an Academic All-American a year ago, ranks among the nation's top 10 players with a .398 attack percentage and leads the Bulldogs in kills (317) and blocks (81).  She also earned All-GLIAC First Team honors for the second consecutive campaign and finished first in the league in attack percentage along with ranking among the leaders in both kills and blocks.

Fordyce moved into third place this year on the school's all-time assists leaders list with more than 4,500 in her career and was among the conference leaders with 1,081 total to date this campaign.  She claimed All-GLIAC First Team honors for the second consecutive year following an honorable mention all-region effort a season ago.  She also ranks second for FSU in aces (36) and third in digs (261).

The duo helped Ferris State earn a bid into the 2012 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Volleyball Tournament, which will take place Nov. 29-Dec. 1 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Ferris State, which is seeded fifth overall in the field, will go up against the tourney's number-four seed Lewis (Ill.) on Thursday, Nov. 29, in quarterfinal-round action at the Ruth Lilly Center.  It will be the last of four quarterfinal matches at 7:30 p.m. (ET).

Nationally-ranked Indianapolis was chosen as the top seed and will host the regional tournament from Thursday to Saturday (Nov. 29-Dec. 1).  Semifinals will take place on Friday night with the championship match on Saturday.

Ferris State will be making its second consecutive NCAA Tournament bid following last year's trip to the regional semifinals.  FSU's upcoming regional appearance will represent the program's 17th all-time as the Bulldogs have compiled a 8-17 overall record in NCAA Tournament competition.

Below is the complete AVCA All-Midwest Region Team:

Midwest Region

Region Freshman of the Year: Krista Hastag, Missouri S&T, MH

Honorable Mention: Kristen Bulkiewicz (Wayne State MI, OH), Samantha Fordyce (Ferris State, S), Victoria Mahl Rockhurst, L), Colleen Mitros (Lewis, OH), Betsy Ronda (Grand Valley, OH), Eno Umoh (Grand Valley, MH)