Valparaiso University volleyball coach Carin Avery has announced the Crusaders 2003 volleyball schedule, which contains five matches against schools that participated in the 2002 NCAA Tournament.

The Brown and Gold will begin their campaign on August 29 at the Titan Classic in Fullerton, Calif. hosted by Cal State-Fullerton. The Crusaders will open against Bucknell and also face the hosts on day one. Valpo will face the University of Nevada, an NCAA participant, in the tournament as well.

The Crusaders will host the Valparaiso Popcorn Classic on September 5-6 for their home opener, with the field consisting of Cleveland State, East Tennessee State, and Indiana State.

On September 9 the Brown and Gold will travel to Notre Dame for a match with the Fighting Irish, the second NCAA Tournament team on the Crusaders schedule.

Valpo's final two tournaments will be September 12-13 at Northern Illinois and September 20 at Michigan. The Wolverines also made the field of 64 last season.

The Crusaders will open their 14-match Mid-Continent Conference slate on September 26 at Centenary, the newest addition to the league. The next night Valpo will head to Oral Roberts, the defending Mid-Con regular season and conference champions.

Valpo's Mid-Con home opener will take place on October 3 when the Brown and Gold welcome UMKC to the Athletics-Recreation Center. Oral Roberts will visit the ARC on October 24, and the Crusaders will conclude their 32-match regular season on November 14 at home against Oakland.

Valparaiso will serve as host for the 2003 Mid-Continent Conference Volleyball Tournament this season, which will take place on November 21-22 at the ARC. The top four teams in the conference will qualify, with the semifinals taking place on Friday and the championship match set for Saturday.