Yesterday, we announced the first semifinal contest (Alec Peters vs. Bowling) in Valpo's Best of 2013-2014 Tournament. Today, we reveal the other semifinal matchup. Voting is now open!
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery announced today that Allison Ketcham, a product of Mishawaka Marian H.S., has signed with the Crusader volleyball program and will join the team as a freshman for the 2014 season.
With the Valparaiso men’s soccer program’s annual St. Baldrick’s fundraiser upcoming this Saturday, April 12, supporters of the cause will also have the chance to cheer on both the Crusader men’s soccer and volleyball teams in spring action that day as well.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery and the Crusader volleyball program will host its annual summer camp from July 8-11, 2014 at the Athletics-Recreation Center on the Valpo campus. The camp is open to both girls and boys, entering grades 3-12. The Crusaders will also be hosting another camp as part of a combination Soccer/Volleyball camp from August 4-6, 2014 for youths entering grades K-8.
Valparaiso placed eight student-athletes across five sports on the Horizon League Fall Academic All-League teams, as announced by the league office this afternoon.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery announced today that Catherine Ament, Kayla Currier and Taylor Graboski have all signed with the Crusader volleyball program during the early signing period and will join the team as freshmen for the 2014 season.
Valparaiso and Milwaukee split the first two sets Sunday afternoon in the Horizon League championship match in Milwaukee, Wis., but the Panthers took sets three and four to earn a 3-1 victory over the Crusaders and the tournament title. Senior Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) and junior Morgan Beil (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) represented the Crusaders on the All-Tournament Team.
The Valparaiso volleyball team trailed just once over three sets in a sweep (25-19, 25-19, 25-16) of Youngstown State Saturday evening in Milwaukee, Wis. in the second semifinal of the Horizon League Championship. With the win, the Crusaders will face host and top-seeded Milwaukee Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. for the league title and the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
The second-seeded Valparaiso volleyball team will face fifth-seeded Youngstown State in the second semifinal of the Horizon League Championship Saturday night in Milwaukee, Wis. at 7 p.m.
Valparaiso enters the Horizon League Championship needing just two victories to claim the tournament title and advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Crusaders, the second seed for the tournament, will open tournament play in Milwaukee Saturday evening in the second semifinal, facing the best remaining seed from Friday’s pair of quarterfinals.
Following a 24-win regular season and a second-place finish in the league standings, five Valparaiso volleyball players have received postseason accolades from the Horizon League. Seniors Ellen Vanden Berg and Sarah Dooms, as well as junior Morgan Beil, earned spots on the All-League Team, while Emily Campbell and Morganne Longoria were named to the All-Freshman Team.
For the third straight Saturday, the Valparaiso volleyball team went five sets in Horizon League play, and for the third straight week, the Crusaders came out on the wrong end of the decision, dropping a 3-2 (25-20, 24-26, 28-26, 20-25, 15-12) contest at Oakland Saturday afternoon in the regular season finale.
Valparaiso volleyball senior Janelle Hobbs (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) was skipped during the introduction of starting lineups prior to Friday afternoon's match at Wright State, but Hobbs got the last laugh, putting together a career performance to lead the Crusaders as they downed the Raiders, 3-1 (27-25, 25-23, 23-25, 25-18). With the win, Valpo secured outright second place in the Horizon League and the second seed in the upcoming league tournament.
Valparaiso looks to secure the #2 seed for the upcoming Horizon League Championship this weekend as the Crusaders close out the regular season at Wright State and Oakland in 3 p.m. CT matchups Friday and Saturday. Valpo will clinch the second seed with one victory.
Crusader volleyball head coach Carin Avery joins the Valpo Coaches Show this week as her team heads into the final weekend of regular season action before competing in the Horizon League Championship next weekend.
Valparaiso men's tennis freshman Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio/Perrysburg) and volleyball senior Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) have been named the Valparaiso athletic department's Athletes of the Month for the month of October.
The Valparaiso volleyball program celebrated the careers of its five-player senior class as part of Senior Day ceremonies prior to its match against Youngstown State at the ARC Saturday afternoon, but the Crusaders were unable to come out with the victory once the match got underway, falling to the Penguins 3-2 (25-18, 18-25, 25-21, 16-25, 15-11).
Sharp execution on both sides of the ball led to a 3-0 (28-26, 25-21, 25-17) victory for the Valparaiso volleyball team over Cleveland State in Horizon League action at the ARC Friday afternoon.
Valparaiso returns home for the final time this season as it hosts a pair of Horizon League matches. Friday afternoon, Cleveland State comes to town for a 4 p.m. first serve - all men's basketball season ticket holders will receive free admission to the volleyball match. Then, the Crusaders will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday afternoon, again slated for a 4 p.m. start against Youngstown State.
In a near-replica of their first matchup, this time it was Valparaiso twice gaining one-set leads on Green Bay before the Phoenix rallied for a 3-2 (22-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-19, 15-13) victory over the Crusaders Saturday evening in Green Bay, Wis.
The Valparaiso volleyball team avenged its lone Horizon League loss Friday night, taking down Milwaukee on the road 3-1 (25-15, 25-19, 20-25, 30-28) to move into a tie in the loss column atop the league standings with the Panthers. The win also marked the ninth consecutive victory for the Crusaders.
A battle for the top of the Horizon League standings awaits Valparaiso on Friday night, as the Crusaders travel to take on current league leader Milwaukee. The Wisconsin road swing concludes Saturday evening when Valpo plays at Green Bay.
On a night where all 14 active players saw playing time, the Valparaiso volleyball team extended its winning streak to eight matches with a 3-0 sweep (25-22, 25-23, 25-18) of Chicago State Monday evening in Chicago, Ill.
The Valparaiso volleyball team put together one of its most dominant performances of the season Saturday afternoon to sweep UIC, 3-0 (25-13, 25-11, 25-22) at the ARC to kick off the second half of Horizon League play. The win was the 20th of the season for the Crusaders, extending their streak of consecutive 20-win campaigns to 12 straight years.
The Valparaiso volleyball program will honor one of its all-time greatest players in Angie (Porché) Rundh at its match against UIC at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon at the ARC.
Valparaiso puts its six-match winning streak on the line as the second half of Horizon League play starts with a home match Saturday afternoon against UIC. The Crusaders then step out of league play for the final time Monday evening at Chicago State. Valpo is one win shy of reaching the 20-win milestone for a 12th straight season.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery joins the Valpo Coaches Show this week as her team approaches the 20-win milestone and prepares for the second half of Horizon League play.
Men's soccer will host its fifth annual benefit match for They Often Cry Outreach (TOCO) on Friday night at 7 p.m. at Brown Field against UIC, raising money for TOCO's annual Holiday Toy Drive. In addition, volleyball's Saturday afternoon match at 2 p.m. against UIC will serve as a TOCO benefit match as well.
The Valparaiso volleyball team stepped out of Horizon League on Tuesday evening, but the result was the same, as the Crusaders defeated Illinois State by a 3-1 (15-25, 25-22, 30-28, 25-22) final in Normal, Ill. The win was the sixth straight for Valpo, which now sits just one win shy of reaching the 20-win milestone for a 12th consecutive season.
Senior middle hitter Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) has been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week after a trio of stellar blocking efforts last week in three Valparaiso victories.
The Valparaiso volleyball team ended the first half of Horizon League play on a winning note Saturday afternoon, sweeping Wright State 3-0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-22) on Breast Cancer Awareness night at the ARC.
On the back of another monster effort from senior Sarah Dooms (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove), who surpassed the 1,000 kill milestone for her career Friday evening, Valparaiso improved to 17-4 and 5-1 in Horizon League play with a 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-20, 25-13) victory over Oakland at the ARC.
Winners of six of its last seven matches, the Valparaiso volleyball team returns to the ARC this weekend. The Crusaders host Oakland on Student Appreciation Night at 7 p.m. Friday, with the first 200 students receiving free t-shirts and pizza, while Saturday (Wright State, 4 p.m.) will be volleyball's annual Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
The term Cardiac Crusaders could easily apply to the Valparaiso volleyball team these last three weeks, as on Tuesday evening, for the third time in the last five matches, Valpo twice fought back from one-set deficits to rally for a 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23, 16-14) victory in non-league action at IUPUI.
For the second time in as many weekends, the Valparaiso volleyball team rallied twice from one-set deficits to earn a league win, closing out a perfect weekend with a 3-2 (14-25, 25-19, 20-25, 25-18, 15-3) victory at Cleveland State Saturday afternoon.
The Valparaiso volleyball team started on fire offensively and got huge performances from both of its middle hitters Friday evening in Horizon League action at Youngstown State, riding the momentum all the way to a 3-0 (25-17, 28-26, 27-25) sweep of the Penguins in Youngstown, Ohio.
The Valparaiso volleyball team returns to the road this weekend, taking on the pair of northeast Ohio Horizon League schools. The Crusaders play at Youngstown State on Friday night before taking on Cleveland State on Saturday afternoon.
The Valparaiso volleyball team was unable to overcome a sluggish start to the match for a second straight night, dropping a 3-0 (25-5, 25-22, 25-19) decision to Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at the ARC in a matchup of the Horizon League’s last two unbeaten teams in league play.
Whether it was being down one set twice, being down 23-21 in the fourth set, or facing match point in the decisive fifth set, Valparaiso never folded on Friday evening, earning a come-from-behind 3-2 (9-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 18-16) victory over Green Bay in its Horizon League home opener Friday night at the ARC.
The Valparaiso volleyball team returns home for the first time in nearly a month, hosting Horizon League matches against fellow league unbeatens Green Bay and Milwaukee on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, respectively.
A balanced team effort was more than enough for Valparaiso to earn a win in its Horizon League opener on Saturday afternoon, as the Crusaders captured a 3-1 (25-20, 25-17, 19-25, 25-16) victory over UIC in Chicago.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery joins the Valpo Coaches Show this week on the eve of Horizon League play for the Crusaders.
The Valparaiso volleyball team kicks off Horizon League play this weekend as the Crusaders make the short trip to Chicago to take on UIC Saturday afternoon. Valpo closes out pre-league play with a pair of tournament championships and an 11-3 record.
Senior Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) represented Valparaiso on the Blue & White Classic All-Tournament Team last weekend.
The Valparaiso volleyball team closed out pre-league play Saturday at the Blue & White Classic in Buffalo, N.Y., falling to #13 Ohio State 3-0 (29-27, 25-20, 25-17) before defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-14) to finish tournament play.
Valparaiso claimed the first set from host Buffalo in its opener at the Blue & White Classic Friday evening, but the Bulls remained undefeated in sending the Crusaders to a 3-1 (11-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19) defeat.
The Valparaiso volleyball team is part of a loaded tournament field this weekend at the Blue & White Classic in Buffalo, N.Y. The Crusaders, who enter their final tune-up for Horizon League play at 10-1, will take on a pair of undefeated teams in #13 Ohio State and host Buffalo, as well as Maryland Eastern Shore.
Junior Morgan Beil (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) and freshman Emily Campbell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) represented the Valparaiso volleyball team as selections to the All-Tournament Team from Evansville's tournament this past weekend.
The Valparaiso volleyball team bounced back from its first loss of the season with a pair of solid outings on Saturday, defeating both SIU Edwardsville (25-16, 25-14, 24-26, 25-20) and Evansville (25-17, 19-25, 25-18, 25-18) by identical 3-1 counts to close out play at this weekend’s tournament in Evansville, Ind.
Valparaiso’s eight-match winning streak to open the 2013 campaign came to an end Friday afternoon in Evansville, Ind., as the Crusaders fell 3-0 (25-21, 30-28, 25-18) to Memphis in the opening match of Evansville’s tournament.
Already having matched the best start in program history, Valparaiso looks to extend its season-opening win streak this weekend at Evansville’s tournament. The Crusaders are scheduled to face Memphis and SIU Edwardsville before closing the tournament against the host Purple Aces.
Trio of matchups against Big Ten teams last weekend for men's and women's soccer and volleyball result in historic victories; provide confidence for Crusaders moving forward
Following her All-Tournament performance last weekend in helping Valparaiso claim the Popcorn Classic title, Crusader redshirt junior Kelsey Victor (Logansport, Ind./Logansport) has been named the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week.
Valparaiso captured the 2013 Valpo Popcorn Classic on its home floor at the ARC on Saturday, downing Rhode Island 3-0 and Iowa 3-1 to claim the tournament title. With the pair of wins, the Crusaders have matched the best start in program history at 8-0.
The Valparaiso volleyball team extended its season-opening winning streak to six matches on Friday on the opening day of the Valpo Popcorn Classic, earning a 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19) victory over Army to open tournament play before downing Eastern Michigan 3-2 (26-24, 24-26, 25-20, 20-25, 15-5) in front of a boisterous crowd to close out the night at the ARC.
Come Friday evening at the Valpo Popcorn Classic, Crusader sophomore setter Kelsey Berrington will see a very familiar face on the other bench as the team breaks their pre-match huddle.
Valparaiso hosts the 2013 Valpo Popcorn Classic this weekend at the ARC, as the five-team, eight-match event will take place over Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7. The Crusaders will welcome Army, Eastern Michigan, Rhode Island and Iowa, playing the first two teams on Friday and the latter two on Saturday.
Valparaiso senior outside hitter Sarah Dooms (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) has been named the Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week after earning Tournament MVP honors at the UCF Invitational over the season's opening weekend.
Valparaiso made it four straight wins to open the 2013 campaign, earning the championship at the UCF Invitational in Orlando, Fla. with 3-0 sweeps of Alabama State (25-16, 25-18, 25-22) and North Florida (25-15, 25-19, 25-13). Senior Sarah Dooms (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) was named tournament MVP, while senior Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) and freshman Morganne Longoria (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) joined Dooms on the All-Tournament Team.
The Valparaiso volleyball team got the 2013 campaign off to a strong start on Friday at the UCF Invitational in Orlando, Fla., earning wins over the host Knights, 3-2 (25-18, 25-17, 19-25, 21-25, 15-10), and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-15).
With the Valparaiso volleyball team kicking off the 2013 season this weekend in Orlando, Fla. at UCF's tournament, read more about what you might be able to expect from the Crusaders over the next few months.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery joins the Valpo Coaches Show this week on the eve of the Crusaders' season-opening tournament this weekend.
Valparaiso placed a pair of players on the seven-member preseason All-Horizon League squad, as voted on by the league's head coaches and announced by the league today. Senior Ellen Vanden Berg (Little Chute, Wis./Little Chute) and junior Morgan Beil (St. Louis, Mo./Marquette) represented the preseason league favorites on the All-League team.
One of the nation's most consistent winningest programs over the last decade-plus, the Valparaiso volleyball team has been selected to win the Horizon League in 2013 in polling of the league's head coaches.
Valparaiso volleyball fans will get their first chance to catch a glimpse of the 2013 Crusaders in action, while at the same time welcoming back some of the players who have helped build the program into what it is today, as Valpo hosts an Alumni Match at the Athletics-Recreation Center this Saturday, August 17 at 4 p.m. The match is open to the public and is free of charge.
The Valparaiso University volleyball program received the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2012-2013 academic year, as announced by the AVCA this week. It marks the eighth time in the last ten seasons that the Crusaders have earned the award.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery announced today that Nicole Lambert has transferred into the Crusader volleyball program. Lambert will be eligible immediately for the 2013 season and has three years of eligibility remaining.
Valparaiso volleyball head coach Carin Avery announced today that Adam Rykse and Nick Polite will join the Crusader coaching staff for the upcoming 2013 season.