November 5, 2009 - With the GLIAC South Division title wrapped up, the Hillsdale College volleyball team heads out on the road in search of more accomplishments that could dictate the team's schedule over the next week.

The Chargers will wrap up the 2009 regular season with matches at Wayne State (7:00 Friday) and Northwood (4:00 Saturday). From there, Hillsdale will host a first-round GLIAC Tournament match at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. That's when the future gets a little murky.

The Chargers' opponent is not yet known for that first-round match. It could also depend on where Hillsdale finishes overall in the conference. Hillsdale has a chance, with two wins and some help, to complete the regular season as the GLIAC's No. 1 overall seed. That seed, coupled with a win in their first-round match Wednesday, would make the Chargers the host team for the 2009 GLIAC Volleyball Tournament Semifinals and Finals, scheduled for Nov. 14-15.

As of Thursday, Hillsdale is tied with Northern Michigan and Grand Valley State for second overall in the GLIAC, each with 10-4 records in the conference. Saginaw Valley State is first overall at 11-4, but only plays one match this weekend.

Hillsdale would win tiebreakers with Saginaw Valley State and Grand Valley State, based on the Chargers' wins over those teams during the regular season. However, Hillsdale loses a tiebreaker with Northern Michigan, based on the Wildcats' 3-1 win over Hillsdale back on Sept. 26 in Marquette.

The host of the GLIAC Tournament is determined by the highest remaining overall seed in the conference after the first-round tournament matches. Hillsdale will enter the tournament no worse than the No. 2 overall seed, based on the team winning the South Division championship.

In order to earn that coveted number one seed, the Chargers must play two tough teams on the road battling to extend their seasons. Neither Wayne State nor Northwood have clinched spots in the conference tournament yet, and both have a chance to do so this weekend. Northwood is the defending South Division champs, while Wayne State ended Hillsdale's 2008 season with a 3-1 win in the first round of last year's conference tournament.

The Chargers have struggled over the past two weeks, losing four of their last five matches. But Hillsdale is still among the "others receiving votes" category in the AVCA Division II Top 25 poll, the only GLIAC school with such a listing.

Despite their recent struggles, the Chargers can still be counted among the top teams in the conference. Hillsdale leads the GLIAC in team hitting percentage and is second in opponents' hitting percentage. The team is also first in total kills and second in blocks, making it one of the most well-rounded rosters in the GLIAC.

Hillsdale defeated both Wayne State and Northwood by identical 3-0 scores earlier this season when the teams played the Chargers at Jesse Philips Arena. These matches on the road, will serve as stiff tests for the Chargers heading into not only into the GLIAC Tournament, but the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament as well.