VOLLEYBALL: Ferris Goes 2-1 In Crossover, Junior Middle Arielle Goodson Shines

BIG RAPIDS - A lot of people feel some of the nation's best Division II volleyball in the nation is played in the Midwest Region.

This past weekend, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference served notice for the second year in a row that it ranks best (ever-so slightly) over its sister league, the Great Lakes Valley Conference when it comes to volleyball. The two leagues went at it in Lansing in the 2009 Asics GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament and the GLIAC emerged as winner in the showdown between the leagues by a 24-21 margin. The 2009 campaign marked the second consecutive year the two leagues went at it in volleyball in this unique event. In 2008, the GLIAC won 27-12, but this year the competition was a lot tighter.

Ferris State University had a 2-1 record in the event, with its loss coming to nationally-ranked Lewis, to help the GLIAC's cause in Lansing. The Bulldogs earned a 3-0 win over Southern Indiana, a 3-2 win over Missouri-St. Louis and ended competition with a 3-0 loss to No. 13 Lewis. In that last match against the Flyers, Goodson, this week's GLIAC North Division Player of the Week, had a big effort as she totaled 13 kills off an attack percentage of .440.

Here is the rundown of the competition as compiled by GLIAC Media Relations:

Leading the way for the GLIAC was Wayne State University, which posted a perfect 3-0 record. The Warriors defeated Northern Kentucky University (3-2), Drury University (3-1), and St. Joseph's College (3-0).

Ashland University, Ferris State University, the University of Findlay, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, and Saginaw Valley State University each recorded 2-1 marks at the event, helping the GLIAC retain the Asics Crossover trophy.

The GLVC had four teams with perfect slates in the event. Bellarmine University, the University of Indianapolis, Lewis University, and UW-Parkside each went 3-0.

Two future GLIAC members, Lake Erie College (1-2) and Ohio Dominican Univeristy (3-0) also helped in the cause, participating in the tournament for the GLIAC to balance out the 15-member GLVC.

The twelve-member 2009 Asics Crossover All-Tournament team featured six players from each conference. Earning All-Tournament status for the GLIAC were: Ashland freshman outside hitter Brittany Snider (Olmstead Falls, Ohio), Grand Valley State University junior middle blocker Rebeccah Rapin (Saginaw, Mich./Nouvel), Hillsdale College junior libero Sydney Dow (Jonesville, Mich.), Michigan Technological University sophomore outside hitter Kathleen Storm (Hancock, Mich.) Saginaw Valley State senior setter Kait Harris (Essexville, Mich./Garber), and Wayne State senior outside hitter Sarha Gosselin (Harrison Twp., Mich./Warren Lincoln).

The six members of the 2009 Asics Crossover All-Tournament team from the GLVC were: Bellarmine University junior outside hitter Emily Beckman (Louisville, Ky./Male), Lewis University senior outside hitter Stephanie Sagat (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South), Northern Kentucky Univeristy junior libero Chelsea Clark (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown), Rockhurst Univeristy sophomore right side hitter Maggie McGovern (Kansas City, Mo./Notre Dame de Scion), University of Indianapolis junior outside hitter Lyndsay Callahan (Chicago, Ill./Marist),UW-Parkside junior setter (Kewaskum, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran).

You better believe the GLIAC and GLVC will be looking forward to future showdowns - most notably in the NCAA regional tournament.