Sunday, February 05, 2012

#1 Valparaiso closed out the Prairie View A&M Invitational in Arlington, Texas on Sunday, finishing the three-day event in seventh place.

The Crusaders entered Sunday's bracket play seeded sixth based on a total pin count of 9,114 pins through the first two days of action. Valpo faced off against seventh-seeded #11 Stephen F. Austin in the first match of the bracket, contested in the best-of-seven baker format, but suffered defeat.

With the loss, the Crusaders dropped into the seventh-place match against #14 Norfolk State, where they earned a win to finish the tournament in seventh place. Valparaiso (62-28) now has a pair of open weekends before returning to the lanes February 24 at the Holiday Classic in Bessemer, Ala., hosted by Alabama A&M.