LANSING, Mich.--The Bellarmine University volleyball team soared past the Ashland Eagles 26-24, 25-18, 25-20 to complete a perfect record at the GLIAC-GLVC Crossover Tournament at the Aim High Complex held today and yesterday.

The Knights were bolstered by the rock solid play of middle blocker Kelly Krucki, who attacked at a better than 40 percent rate and was credited for being a part of five Bellarmine team blocks.  Bellarmine Head Coach Dan Palmer said, "Krucki had an amazing match.  She made big contributions for us today blocking and hitting."

Bellarmine also got an outstanding performance from their defenders, who combined for 55 digs in just three sets.  Emily Beckman and Kaitlan Harris shared match-high dig honors with 14 apiece.

"The bottom line was that we were able to frustrate their hitters with blocking and defense," said Palmer.  For the match, Ashland had 117 attack attempts but only converted 35 of those into kills.

Offensively, Bellarmine was once again led by Beckman with 12 kills and Caryn Schoeff with 28 assists. 

The Knights improve to 10-6 on the season including a perfect 3-0 in the Crossover Tournament having previously defeated Lake Superior State and Lake Erie.  Ashland lost for the first time in the tournament, and fell to 10-12 overall.  

The Crossover Tournament matches teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) against counterparts from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Despite Bellarmine's 3-0 record, the GLVC fell to the GLIAC by a count of 24-21.

After completion of the tournament, officials released a 12-player (six from each conference) All-Tournament Team. Earning a spot in that elite group was Bellarmine's Emily Beckman, who recorded 38 kills and 29 digs during the tournament.

Bellarmine returns to GLVC action on Friday, when they travel up I-65 to take on the University of Indianapolis. On Saturday, the Knights will square off against the Pumas of St. Joseph's in Rensselear, Ind. 

BU-ASHLAND BOXSCORE

GLIAC-GLVC CROSSOVER ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM:

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 junior outside hitter Emily Beckman (Louisville, Ky./Male), Lewis senior outside hitter Stephanie Sagat (Darien, Ill./Hinsdale South), Northern Kentucky junior libero Chelsea Clark (Yorktown, Ind./Yorktown), Rockhurst sophomore right side hitter Maggie McGovern (Kansas City, Mo./Notre Dame de Scion), UIndy junior outside hitter Lyndsay Callahan (Chicago, Ill./Marist) and UW-Parkside junior setter (Kewaskum, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran).