Mount St. Joseph's volleyball team will begin the stretch run of its season with this weekend's Midwest Invitational, a tournament that could have major NCAA Division III tournament ramifications.

        MSJ (24-3, 5-0 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Confer ence), ranked seventh in the country, heads to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., in hopes of locking up a No.1 seed for NCAAs. All 12 participants in the invitational are in the Great Lakes region, so a victory could ensure the top seed and allow MSJ to play host to a region of the NCAA Tournament.

        “We know that we need to hold onto that top spot in the region if we're going to get to play at home,” MSJ coach Michele Benoit said. “We play just as well on the road, but it's just so much more convenient here.”

        Benoit has coached the Lions for six seasons but said this and last year's teams are a cut above the others. MSJ reached the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight last season and returned all but two players from that team.

        “Both teams were very good, but this year's team just had more experience coming into the season,” Benoit said. “We feel we have a good shot of making it as far as last season, and we're hoping we can make a Final Four appearance.”

        To do so, the Lions will need continued excellence from junior Betsy Owens, a second-team All-American last season. Owens leads the team with 465 digs and is second with 288 kills.

        Setter Annie Schroth, one of four senior captains, leads the team with 647 assists.

        Despite the team's high ranking, Benoit said the Lions have reasonable goals.

        “We haven't thought about a national title, because the top 10 is just so tough,” Benoit said. “In fact, I don't think we've ever mentioned it. The parents are talking about it though.”

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