Charger volleyball went 2-1 in the Midwest Regional Crossover tournament Oct. 18-19. These games were not part of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference competitive season.

The Chargers’ overall season record is 13-1, with a conference record of 6-1 and a conference win percentage of 0.857. The Chargers still hold the top spot in the G-MAC North standings.

On Friday, the Chargers beat the Parkside University Rangers 3-1 and then fell to the Rockhurst University Hawks 2-3. On Saturday, they swept the Maryville University Saints 3-0.

“Although we wanted to go 3-0, 2-1 really helped us with team growth,” head coach Chris Gravel said. “Hopefully we can apply that the rest of the season.”

The Midwest Regional Crossover featured 38 teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference, G-MAC, and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The tournament was hosted in Hammond, Indiana, and is the largest NCAA volleyball tournament in the nation, according to a GLIAC press release.

Chargers’ seniors Lauren Passaglia and Amanda Hilliker were named to the Midwest Regional All-Crossover team, with Passaglia named G-MAC North Division Volleyball Athlete of the Week, according to Chargers’ Director of Athletic Communications James Gensterblum.

Gravel said he thinks last weekend taught the Chargers the necessity of staying focused on the next step throughout their matches.

“We learned to make sure that we’re playing for the next point and not for past mistakes,” Gravel said. “We have to live in the present and not in the past.”

Redshirt sophomore Chloe Pierce said she thinks that, in its two wins, the team did a good job of keeping control of the game. 

“Our side of the net was filled with confidence,” Pierce said. “Even when the scores were close, we kept focusing on what needed to be done to win the game.” 

Gravel said the game against the Rangers allowed the Chargers to show their full depth of skill and test it. 

“In our first win, we had a lot of contribution from our bench and a lot of changing around with people,” Gravel said. “They all came in and did a great job.”

This weekend, the Chargers travel to Midland, Michigan, to play the Northwood University Timberwolves at 1 p.m. The Timberwolves are ranked third in the G-MAC North standings with a conference record of 5-2. 

Earlier in the season, on Sept. 28, the Chargers beat the Timberwolves at home 3-0.

“They play better at their place,” Gravel said. “They have one of the best players in the region on their team looking for a little revenge on us. We’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen.”