BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University women's cross country team qualified for the NCAA Division II National Championships for the first time in school history on Saturday (11/5) by finishing in third at the NCAA D-II Midwest Regional Championships hosted by Ferris State University.

The Lady Cardinals were led by Megan Pittoors (Macomb, Mich./Dakota HS) and Alycia Wright (Macomb Township, Mich./Lutheran High North) who both earned All-Region Honors by finishing 20th and 22nd overall with final times of 22:51.40 and 22:52.40 for the 6k.  Following close behind Pittoors and Wright was senior Jean Hollerbach (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Grosse Pointe HS) who crossed the line at 23:02.50 which was good for a 26th place finish.  Junior Lauren Hill (Flat Rock, Mich./Flat Rock HS) would time in at 23:10.90, good for a 31st place finish.  Crossing the line 36th overall was freshman Emily Short (Tawas, Mich./Tawas Area HS) who clocked in at 23:20.20 for the 6k.  Teammates Ashley Meyer (Shepherd, Mich./Shepherd HS) and  Chelsea Savage (Monroe, Mich./St. Mary's Catholic Central) would round out the Cardinals top-seven, coming in at 23:23.50 and 23:45.90 good for 37th and 59th place finishes, repspectively.

The Lady Cardinals will be back in action again on Saturday, November 19 when they travel to Spokane, Washington to compete in the NCAA D-II National Championships.