The #17 Valpo bowling team heads to Harahan, La. this week for the inaugural CUSA Bowling Championship, starting Thursday, March 21.

With nine teams in the conference, the tournament begins with a play-in match Thursday to advance into the main, double-elimination bracket. Teams were seeded for the tournament using the latest NCAA RPI, with the eighth and ninth seeds facing off Thursday.

Valpo checked in at 17 in the latest RPI release, giving the Beacons the ninth seed for the tournament, and will face off against Tulane, which was 14 in the latest RPI release and #13 in the most recent NTCA top-25 poll. Valpo and Tulane have met twice this season, with the Green Wave earning wins in both matchups back in November at the MOTIV Ladyjack Classic.

With a win on Thursday, the Beacons would earn their spot in the double-elimination tournament bracket and would continue action against top-seeded Jacksonville State on Friday morning. The four-day tournament concludes with the championship match(es) on Sunday — the tournament champion will earn CUSA’s automatic bid into the 2024 NCAA Bowling Championship.

Valpo enters the CUSA Championship with a 54-34 overall record, on pace for the second-best single-season winning percentage in program history. The Beacons have posted winning records at six of their seven tournaments this season.