Moccasins Set for 2023 South Region Crossover

LAKELAND, Fla. – The Florida Southern volleyball team is scheduled to compete in the 2023 South Region Crossover this coming weekend in Orlando, Fla. at the Game Point Events Center. The Moccasins will play three matches over the two-day event Oct. 20-21. FSC is scheduled to take on Lee, No. 15 West Florida and Mississippi College who all are members of the Gulf South Conference.
 
2023 South Region Crossover
Opponents – Lee, No. 15 West Florida & Mississippi College
Dates – Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. vs. Lee | Oct. 21 at 12:15 p.m. vs. No. 15 UWF / at 7 p.m. vs. MC
Location – Game Point Events Center / Orlando, Fla.
Live Stats – FSCMocs.com/stats
Live Video ($) – ballertv.com
 
The South Region Crossover features the 12 programs out of the Gulf South Conference versus the 11 members of the Sunshine State Conference along with Flagler College out of the Peach Belt Conference.  All 24 teams will play three matches over the two days with match-up determined by order of finish in the conference standings through the first half of the season. Flagler is automatically ranked as the No. 12 team on the SSC side.
 
A one-day pass to the event will be $15 with an event pass for sale for $25. All tickets can be purchased HERE.
 
This year's event marks the eighth installment of the South Region Crossover with the SSC holding a 178-53 record versus the GSC at the event. Florida Southern is 16-5 over the seven events including three 3-0 performances in 2015, 2017 and 2018. FSC went 2-1 at last year's crossover with a 3-1 loss to UAH along with 3-2 victories over Shorter and Montevallo.
 
The Mocs earned the No. 4 seed out of the SSC heading into the 2023 event and will play the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 8 seeds out of the GSC. FSC opens against the No. 8 seed Lee on Friday night at 7 p.m. before facing the No. 1 seed and 15^th-ranked West Florida on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. and the No. 4 seed Mississippi College Saturday night at 7 p.m.
 
FSC has faced Lee four times on the volleyball court including twice at the South Region Crossover and the Mocs hold a 4-0 record in the series. The most recent meeting between the two programs took place at the 2019 crossover held in Hoover, Ala. with the Mocs capturing a 3-1 victory. The Flames are currently 12-10 overall including 4-6 in GSC play. Lee enters the weekend having lost four of its last five matches. Graduate student Abby Stroh leads the team offensively with 3.0 kills per set.
 
No. 15 West Florida has faced the Moccasins 20 times over the years including three times at the South Region Crossover. The Mocs hold a 13-7 record in the series including 2-1 in crossover play. The most recent meeting between the two programs came during the 2021 South Region Crossover in Winter Haven, Fla. with the Argonauts snapping a six-match losing streak in the series, taking a 3-0 victory over the Mocs. The Argonauts are 16-4 on the year including a perfect 10-0 in GSC play. The last loss for the Argos came back on Sept. 9, a 3-1 loss to then-ranked No. 1 West Texas A&M. FSC and UWF have faced one similar opponent this season, FSC defeated Flagler 3-2 in Lakeland earlier this season while the Argonauts defeated the Saints 3-2 in Pensacola. West Florida has won 13-straight heading into the crossover. Junior Avery Rodgers leads UWF offensively with 2.96 kills per set.
 
The Mocs and Choctaws of Mississippi College have never faced off on a volleyball court. Mississippi is 8-9 overall in 2023 including 7-3 in GSC action. The Mocs and Choctaws have not faced any similar opponents in 2023 with MC entering the weekend having won five of its last six contests. Junior Lydia Paulette leads the team offensively with 3.64 kills per set.
 
Florida Southern has won five of its last six matches heading into the crossover and is led by senior Mackenzie Petermann who is averaging a team-best 3.71 kills per set. FSC ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in blocks per set (2.64) led by senior Emily Crescenzi (1.11) and junior Madison Fowler (1.11) who rank 43^rd and 44^th, respectively, in blocks per set among the national leaders. Junior Kiersten Kraus is one of just three NCAA Division II student-athletes this season to record three-or-more triple-doubles and ranks third in the category among the NCAA statistical rankings.
 
The Mocs will open up crossover play this Friday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. as they faceoff against Lee. FSC will return to action Saturday with a 12:15 p.m. matchup against No. 15 West Florida followed by a 7 p.m. contest versus Mississippi College.