The University of Southern Indiana volleyball team learned late Sunday night that it will face Northwood University, Wayne State University, and Lake Superior State University in the 2015 Midwest Region Crossover Friday and Saturday at the Great Lakes Center in Aurora, Illinois.
USI (11-7, 4-5 GLVC) squares off with Northwood Friday at 2:30 p.m., before taking on Wayne State and Lake Superior State Saturday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
The Screaming Eagles, who have played their last six matches on the road, are looking to snap a three-match skid that saw them lose a heart-breaker in five sets to the University of Wisconsin-Parkside this past Saturday.
USI, which plays eight of its final 10 matches at the Physical Activities Center, is the No. 11 seed from the Great Lakes Valley Conference—USI is only one game out of eighth-place and two games out of the top six in the conference standings.
Friday’s match marks the second meeting of the year between USI and the Timberwolves of Northwood. The Eagles defeated the Timberwolves in three sets during the Dunn Hospitality Invitational at the PAC earlier this season.
Northwood (6-11, 4-5 GLIAC) is the No. 10 seed from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while Wayne State (7-11, 3-6 GLIAC) is the No. 12 seed in the GLIAC. Lake Superior State (0-13, 0-9 GLIAC) is the No. 16 seed in the GLIAC.
This marks the first season that the Crossover has been named the Midwest Region Crossover as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference is sending four teams to compete in the event.
Formerly known as the GLVC/GLIAC Crossover, the Midwest Region Crossover is the largest collegiate volleyball tournament in the country, featuring 36 teams from three conferences. A total of 54 matches will be played throughout the two-day event, with each of the six sessions featuring nine matches at the same time.
USI went 3-0 at the Crossover a year ago, raising its all-time record at the event to 9-12. The GLVC dominated the GLIAC at the Crossover a year ago, going 37-11 in the 48 matches to claim conference bragging rights for the fourth time in five seasons.
Prior to the GLVC and GLIAC tying in 2013 at 24-24, GLVC teams had gone 28-20 in 2012, 19-11 in 2011, and 23-22 in 2010. GLIAC squads were 24-21 in 2009 and 27-12 in the inaugural crossover in 2008.
Tickets for the event will be $5 for adults and students; $4 for seniors; while children, ages 13-and-under, are free. Live stats for all of USI’s matches can be accessed at gousieagles.com.
