Valparaiso volleyball fans will get their first chance to catch a glimpse of the 2011 Crusaders in action, while at the same time welcoming back some of the players who have helped build the program into what it is today, as Valpo hosts an Alumni Match at the Athletics-Recreation Center this Saturday, August 13 at 5 p.m.  The match is open to the public and is free of charge.

Among the Crusader alums scheduled to return for this Saturday’s match are Katie (Bova) Hoffmann, Lauren (Moulton) Marshall, Jessi (Novak) Kinney, Jessie Fox, Tiffany (Meikle) Haas, Brittany (Marks) Malicoat, Allison Sears, Kim Bukowski, Val Bollenbacher and Tara (Newton) Diebler.  The group spans Valpo’s current run of nine consecutive 20-win seasons and combined for 17 All-League honors and five league specialty awards over their Crusader careers.

Meanwhile, this year’s iteration of the Crusaders will be capping their first week back on campus with their first action against outside competition.  Valpo returns 11 letterwinners from last year’s 27-win squad as the Crusaders look for their tenth consecutive 20-win campaign.  The regular season begins for Valpo on Aug. 26, when it takes on nationally-ranked Ohio State at the WVU Mountaineer Invitational.