Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery announced her squad’s schedule for the upcoming 2014 campaign on Tuesday, as the Crusaders take aim at a 13^th consecutive 20-win season.

The season opens up for the Crusaders in Durham, N.C. at the NCCU Invitational Aug. 29, where Valpo will face Wofford and Campbell in addition to host North Carolina Central.  The Crusaders will then play their home opener at the ARC Sept. 3 against IUPUI before heading north to Brookings, S.D. for the Jackrabbit Invitational Sept. 5-6, hosted by South Dakota State and also featuring UMKC and Stephen F. Austin.

The weekend of Sept. 12-13 sees Valpo travel to Martin, Tenn. for the Skyhawk Invitational for matches against host UT Martin, Western Carolina and Drake.  A mid-week match at Toledo Sept. 16 leads the Crusaders into their final pre-league tournament, as they host the Crusader Invitational at the ARC Sept. 19-20.  Valpo will welcome Murray State, Sacramento State and George Washington for the two-day, six-match event.  Interspersed throughout the league schedule is a home non-league match versus North Dakota State (Oct. 19) and road contests at Chicago State (Oct. 21) and IPFW (Nov. 11).

The Horizon League schedule kicks off for the Crusaders in Wisconsin against Green Bay and Milwaukee Sept. 26-27, while the home league slate begins Oct. 3 versus Youngstown State.  Valpo’s home finale is slated for Nov. 8 against Oakland and the double round-robin league schedule concludes Nov. 15 at UIC. 

The Horizon League Championship is set for Nov. 21-23 at the site of the league’s regular season champion, with the league tournament champion earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.