Over 600 collegiate athletes from throughout the Midwest met at the Hammond Sportsplex on October 18 for the annual Midwest Region Volleyball Crossover Tournament. Featuring NCAA Division II teams from the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and the Great Lakes Valley Conference, tournament attendees were treated to some of the best volleyball being played in the Region.
The multi-day Midwest Crossover has been hosted at the Sportsplex since 2021 and always attracts a large, energetic crowd.
“It’s absolutely huge,” Athletic Supervisor and Velocity 219 Club Director Brian Erminger said. “It’s a major event that promotes volleyball and helps the Region economically. We bring in 38 teams who are eating at our restaurants, fueling up at our gas stations, and staying at our hotels. It’s the single largest volleyball tournament in the country.”
Part of what keeps crowds engaged during the tournament is the number of matches being played at once. The Sportsplex’s large gym means that spectators can enjoy multiple games at the same time, ensuring constant action.
The atmosphere is further enhanced by the collection of athletes present, many of whom have rarely or never faced each other on the court. Each team plays three games throughout the tournament, creating unique matchups each time.
“The Midwest Crossover provides a really great opportunity for our three conferences to come together in one central location,” Commissioner for the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tom Daeger said. “This venue, this location, and the community support have really been great in providing that opportunity for these conferences.”
The Sportsplex’s hosting role first came about after Hammond won the rights to host the tournament. The state-of-the-art facility’s spacious courts, central location, and other accommodations make it appealing for such a large tournament.
Since then, the teams involved in the Midwest Crossover have built strong relationships with the City of Hammond and the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority (CVA). It’s these relationships that keep the tournament coming back every year.
“The staff at the South Shore CVA as well as the Hammond Sportsplex are tremendous,” Daegar said. “The support we receive from not only them but the entire community – the hotel providers, the local vendors – really makes this a special event for our student-athletes. The leagues are really excited about continuing that relationship in future years.”
The South Shore CVA hopes to see that relationship develop further. Having this level of talent in Hammond makes the South Shore CVA’s job of promoting tourism to the area easier than ever.
“We’ve filled up a number of hotel rooms with this event alone,” South Shore CVA Sports Director Jimmy Nelson said. “It’s fantastic having this here in Hammond. It shows a lot of optimism for the youth in the area to see all of these Division II NCAA colleges coming to one area to put on this big event.”
The Midwest Crossover tournament continues into Saturday. Come out to cheer on your favorite team and check out the awesome talent on show in the Midwest!
To learn more about the South Shore Convention & Visitors Authority and other events happening throughout the Region, visit southshorecva.com.
