Valparaiso bounced back from its first loss of the season Friday evening with a 30-24, 23-30, 30-21, 30-26 victory over Stony Brook in DeKalb, Ill. in the first round of the NIU Comfort Inn & Suites Invitational.

The Crusaders, which saw its eight match winning streak end on Tuesday at #15 Notre Dame, tallied 14 blocks and 89 digs in the match on the way to the victory.

Liz Mikos (Dundee, Ill./Jacobs H.S.) led the Crusaders with 12 kills and nine blocks, while freshman Jessie Fox (Granger, Ind./Penn H.S.) added ten kills and hit .350. Sara Silcox (Michigan City, Ind./Michigan City H.S.) led Valpo defensively with 20 digs, while Lindsey Moore (Wakarusa, Ind./Penn H.S.) added 17 digs. Cyndi Norman (Minooka, Ill./Minooka H.S.) tallied a double-double with 13 digs and 51 assists.

Rachel Goldsmith led the Seawolves with 14 kills and 13 digs, while Tesha Harry also tallied 14 kills. Claire Lindner recorded 15 digs.

Valpo (9-1) hit .183 for the match, compared with Stony Brook's (1-6) .149 hitting percentage.

The Crusaders will return to action on Saturday morning when they face Illinois-Chicago at 11 a.m. before facing the host Huskies of Northern Illinois at 7 p.m.