Head coach Carin Avery announced today that Kim Bukowski, who ranks third in Crusader volleyball history in assists, is returning to Valparaiso University and the Crusader volleyball program as a graduate assistant coach for the 2011 season.

Bukowski, who graduated from Valparaiso in 2010 and spent last season working in the same capacity at the University of South Dakota, helped the Crusaders to 91 victories over her four years (2006-2009), including four straight 20-win seasons.  She also contributed as Valpo finished second in the league standings in three of her four years and advanced to the league title match on two occasions.  Bukowski closed out her Crusader career with 3,543 assists, third-most in Valpo history.

The two-time All-Horizon League selection enjoyed perhaps her finest season in her junior campaign of 2008, earning AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region accolades after leading the Horizon League and finishing sixth nationally in assists/set.  Bukowski, a three-time HL Player of the Week, also helped the Crusaders to lead the nation that season in both kills/set and assists/set, racking up 1,355 assists as a junior, seventh-most in a single year all-time at Valpo.