The Valpo volleyball program will be hosting its #oneVALPO match on Friday evening when the Beacons take on Drake, highlighting the athletic department’s #oneVALPO promise, which emphasizes that we are one — one team, one community, one people.

The #oneVALPO initiative was started by former Valpo men’s soccer head coach Mike Avery and his program in response to members of the team being subjected to racial slurs during a nonconference game in 2013. Aiming to foster a culture of acceptance and tolerance, the #oneVALPO promise was crafted.

The original promise stated that individuals will promise to show respect for all others regardless of beliefs, backgrounds, etc. It also called for the elimination of disrespectful and derogatory remarks, the education of other cultures, and to celebrate the differences of others. After all, the promise read, together we are more than we are alone.

The #oneVALPO initiative was met with overwhelming support. All of Valpo’s varsity sports signed the pledge, while each of the men’s soccer team’s opponents also did so. Numerous groups and organizations around the Valpo campus and out in the community came on board as well.

In 2020, the Valpo Athletics family engaged in meaningful, productive and respectful discussions to develop a reinvigorated message that provides clarity, comfort and a purposeful move to combine action with celebration and education. The athletic department unveiled its reimagined #oneVALPO promise in February 2021.

The volleyball program was one of the first adopters of the initial #oneVALPO promise and is taking the opportunity Friday to shine a light on the reimagined #oneVALPO promise. Fans will have the opportunity to sign the promise at Friday night’s match, while the first 150 Valpo students will receive free #oneVALPO t-shirts.