Valparaiso turned in a fifth place performance at the Dennis Stark Relays on Friday night in Notre Dame, Ind. as the Crusaders opened the 2006-2007 campaign.

The Crusaders tallied 94 points, just 20 behind fourth place UW-Milwaukee. Notre Dame won the meet with 264 points.

The 400 freestyle relay earned a fourth place finish at the meet, the highest place the Brown and Gold finished on the day. David Peterson (Schererville, Ind./Highland H.S.), Adam Jajtner (Port Washington, Wis./Port Washington H.S.), Dan Meals (Washington, Ill./Washington Community H.S.), and Cody Sowder (Lebanon, Ind./Lebanon H.S.) touched the wall in 3:20.75.

Valpo will return to the pool for a quadrangular meet on October 15 in Carmel, Ind. against Butler, Saint Louis, and Evansville, beginning at 11 a.m. CDT.