Continuing the #ValpoInTheValley series, which will take a look at each of the Missouri Valley Conference’s 17 sports, are women’s tennis and women’s swimming. Learn about the landscape of The Valley in the pair of sports and hear from swimming head coach Howard Hunte as he talks about what his program is looking forward to entering the first season of MVC competition and who will lead the way for the Crusaders in 2017-18.

The Raise Your Sights award winners have been announced for the 2016-17 season. The honor is given annually to the best sport teams academically and is based on combined grade point average (GPA) from the current academic year. The award recognizes the top academic male and female team from each Horizon League institution.

Valparaiso University president Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., announced today that the University has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1, 2017. The Crusaders will begin competing for MVC championships in the 2017–2018 academic year.

The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team’s season came to a close on Sunday with a 5-2 loss to Detroit Mercy at the Valpo Tennis Complex. It may not be reflected in the form of victories, but the Crusaders (2-18, 1-8 Horizon) showed significant signs of improvement down the stretch, winning at least two matches in each of their last five. Seniors Paige Heuer, Kathleen Hebble and Morgan Paras all participated in the final matches of their collegiate careers on Sunday.

The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team gave Oakland everything it could handle on Saturday afternoon at the Valpo Tennis Complex, but the chance to knock off the Grizzlies came up short in a 4-3 defeat. The Crusaders have made progress in recent matches, scoring two team points or more in each of their last four.

The Valparaiso University tennis programs were well represented as the Horizon League announced its men’s and women’s all-academic teams on Friday. Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) and Kyle Dunn (Fond du Lac, Wis. / Fond du Lac) have both notched places on the men’s all-academic team, while Kathleen Hebble (Sellersburg, Ind. / Silver Creek) achieved a spot on the women’s all-academic team.

The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team picked up wins at two singles spots on Tuesday at the Valpo Tennis Complex, but couldn’t corral the team triumph in a 5-2 loss to the Cougars of Chicago State. Meg Modesto and Randi Wind provided the wins for the Crusaders.

The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team picked up two singles victories and one doubles triumph in a 5-2 loss to Milwaukee at the Valpo Tennis Complex on Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders hadn’t won more than one singles match in any of their first five Horizon League contests, but have now picked up multiple singles wins in back-to-back league matches.

The Valparaiso University women’s tennis team flashed a flair for the dramatic on Friday afternoon at the Valpo Tennis Complex, starting the holiday weekend with a heart-pounding 4-3 victory over Green Bay. The match came down to No. 3 singles, where Meg Modesto picked up Valpo’s most memorable victory of the season to clinch the team win.