THE FIRST SERVE
The Southwest Minnesota State University Mustang volleyball team will face Grand Valley State (Mich.) today in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division II Championships at 2 p.m. CST at Knights Gym on the campus of Bellermine University.  SMSU enters the match with a record of 25-9, while GVSU is 27-5 overall. The winner will advance to the national championship match on Saturday at 3 p.m. CST.

OPPONENT AT A GLANCE
GRAND VALLEY STATE — The Lakers are ranked No. 18 in the AVCA poll and advanced to the Elite Eight with a 26-5 record after claiming the Midwest Region Championship. GVSU has made it to the National Championships nine times, the last being in 2010. The Lakes swepted Wingate in the quarterfinal round of the 2014 National Championship Tournament. GVSU improved its all-time NCAA Tournament record to 37-13 in its 15 appearances and 6-3 in the Elite Eight. The lone Final Four win came back in 2005, when GVSU captured the Division II National Championship with a title win at No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney.