FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Indiana Wesleyan University volleyball and Saint Francis (Ind.) battled in a pair of close regular season matches and that carried over into the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday. Saint Francis won the decisive fifth set 15-13 to advance to the Crossroads League Tournament championship match.

A LOT ON THE LINE

Saint Francis clinched the Crossroads League’s second automatic bid to the NAIA National Championship with the victory. Marian earned the first automatic bid as the regular season champion and No. 1 seed in the tournament and the Knights won the other semifinal match to reach the league championship match. Since Marian already has the first bid, Saint Francis earns the second bid in lieu of the victory tonight.

ON A ROLL

The fourth set was the best set for the Wildcats all season as the 25-9 score was the biggest margin of victory. IWU scored the first seven points and led 15-2. The Wildcats finished the set with a .344 attack percentage with 14 kills and just 3 errors in 32 chances.

CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT

In the past 17 years the Wildcats have been led by Candace Moats, IWU has reached the Crossroads League Tournament championship match 15 times and have won the tournament title 13 times.

NEXT FOR THE WILDCATS

Indiana Wesleyan has to wait until the NAIA Selection Show on Monday to see if they receive an at-large selection to the NAIA National Championship. The reveal is at 11 a.m. ET on Monday and can be seen here.

If Indiana Wesleyan earns at at-large bid, the NAIA National Championship Opening Round is on November 17 at home sites.