ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University volleyball team has garnered a season worthy of NCAA Regional Division II recognition. For the first time ever, the Cardinals have advanced to the regional tournament riding a tidal wave of success that saw SVSU win 23 matches throughout the season.

The Cardinals enter the tournament as the #2 seed in the midwest region and will face Michigan Tech on Friday (Nov. 21) on the campus of Grand Valley State University. Saginaw Valley defeated Michigan Tech in straight games on Nov. 12 in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC Tournament.

The Cardinals bring offensive and defensive threats in senior outside hitter Sarah Redoute (Clinton Township, Mich.) - who has a team leading 349 kills to date, as well as 335 digs on the season - and junior setter Kait Harris (Essexville, Mich.) who has contributed 1,130 assists so far this season, and provided 240 digs for the Cardinals. But, it wasn’t offense alone that has helped SVSU make it this far. The defense has been solid behind dig-leader Carmen Schacher (Flint, Mich.) who has tallied 468 digs.

Harris and Redoute were also selected to the All GLIAC Tournament team for helping the Cardinals make it to the conference finals.

Of the eight teams to make the regional tournament, five are from the GLIAC. Joining SVSU in the tournament are #1 seed Grand Valley State, #5 seed Northern Michigan, #7 seed Michigan Tech and #8 seed Northwood. Grand Valley will host the Division II tournament.