NMU Volleyball

MARQUETTE, Mich. – The No. 25 ranked Northern Michigan volleyball team will have the opportunity this week to make a major splash on the regional scene as they compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference/Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Crossover.

The two-day event in Aurora, Ill., will be held on Friday and Saturday (Oct. 14-15) and features a 32-team field.

The ‘Cats finished 2-1 at the 2010 event, defeating Rockhurst and nationally ranked Missouri-St. Louis, before falling to nationally ranked Indianapolis.

NMU opens the weekend at 11:30 a.m. on Friday (Oct. 14) against the No. 8 seed Bellarmine.  The Knights enter the tournament on a three-match losing streak and are 9-6 overall and 5-6 in the GLVC.  Bellarmine is led by sophomore outside hitter Krista Gibson. She has a team best 173 kills, averaging 3.46 per set.  The Knights were a perfect 3-0 at least year’s crossover tournament.

The ‘Cats own the head-to-head series 5-1, with the last meeting taking place in 2002.

NMU concludes its first day of competition at 5:30 p.m. against No. 4 seed Missouri S & T.  The Miners have lost three of their last four matches and are 14-6 overall and 9-2 in the GLVC.  Missouri S & T is led by senior outside hitter Erin Bekebrede.  She has a team best 269 kills, averaging 3.74 per set.  The Miners were 1-2 at last year’s crossover.

This is the first meeting between the two programs.

The second and final of competition has NMU squaring off against No. 2 seed Northern Kentucky at 1 p.m.  The No. 12 ranked Norse enter the tournament riding a five-match win streak and are 15-2 overall and 9-2 GLVC.  Northern Kentucky has four players who each have over 100 kills this season, combining for 677 kills.  The Norse went 1-2 at last year’s crossover tournament.

The two teams last met at the 2008 Crossover, with NMU winning in five sets.  The ‘Cats own the head-to-head series 12-7.

GAME NOTES

# # # NMU # # #