Hillsdale & SVSU Share 2009 GLIAC Volleyball Championship; Tournament Pairings Set

BAY CITY, Mich. - Hillsdale College and Saginaw Valley State University each claimed a share of the 2009 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) volleyball championship as regular season play concluded on Saturday.

Hillsdale, which also earned the GLIAC's South Division title, posted a 12-4 mark in league play and a 20-7 overall record.  Saginaw Valley, the GLIAC's North Division champ, also went 12-4 in the GLIAC, while posting a 19-8 overall record.  The Chargers will carry the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament based on defeating the Cardinals in their only meeting this season.

Grand Valley State University will be the No. 2 seed from the North Division.  The Lakers, who tied for second place in the North Division with Northern Michigan University (11-5), bested the Wildcats in GLIAC tie breakers.  NMU will hold the North Division's No. 3 seed when the two teams face off in GLIAC Tournament Quarterfinal action on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the GVSU Fieldhouse

Ashland University claimed the No. 2 seed in the South Division after recording a 9-7 mark in league play (15-13 overall).  The Eagles will host the South's No. 3 seed, Wayne State University (19-8, 8-8 GLIAC), in the tournament quaterfinals on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.).

Michigan Technological University (14-13, 10-6 GLIAC) and Ferris State University (19-10, 10-6 GLIAC) tied for fourth place in the North Division and each earned wildcard berths into the GLIAC Tournament.  The Huskies came out ahead of the Bulldogs in the GLIAC tie-breaker process, earning the top wildcard seed.  MTU will travel to Saginaw Valley State on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) for a tournament quarterfinal match-up.  Ferris State will visit Hillsdale on Wednesday (7:00 p.m.) in the final quarterfinal pairing.

The 2009 GLIAC Volleyball Tournament semifinals and final will be hosted by the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals on Saturday, Nov. 14, and Sunday, Nov. 15.  Team will be re-seeded after quarterfinal action.

2009 GLIAC Volleyball Tournament Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Nov. 11
WC2 Ferris State at 1S Hillsdale, 7:00 p.m.
WC1 Michigan Tech at 1N Saginaw Valley State, 7:00 p.m.
3S Wayne State at 2S Ashland, 7:00 p.m.
3N Northern Michigan at 2N Grand Valley State, 7:00 p.m.