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.
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