Valparaiso University Sports Update, July 12, 2017

VU-Grable-Joins-Crusader-Coaching-Staff-as-Graduate-AssistantGrable Joins Crusader Coaching Staff as Graduate Assistant
Valparaiso University softball head coach Kate Stake announced today that Kayti Grable – a three-time All-Region honoree as a player at Northern Illinois University – will join the Crusader coaching staff this fall as a graduate assistant.

“Kayti impressed us during the interview process with her sincerity and her genuine desire to use coaching as a platform to make a positive impact on the lives of student-athletes,” said Stake. “She was a great player who did damage against us and throughout the MAC, and I look forward to her translating her playing skills over into her coaching ones. Kayti is a perfect fit with our program and the culture we’ve built.”

Grable closed out her career at NIU in 2017 by being named a Second Team All-Region honoree by the NFCA for the third consecutive season, hitting .384 with 45 RBIs. A four-time First Team All-MAC choice and the 2014 MAC Freshman of the Year, Grable concluded her time with the Huskies as the program’s all-time leader in home runs (40) and RBIs (179) and second in program history in career hits (242), finishing as a lifetime .386 hitter.

“I am excited to have been given the opportunity from Valpo Athletics to pursue my passion for coaching,” said Grable. “Through a master’s degree and experience as a graduate assistant for the softball team, my dreams of becoming a coach will become my reality. I am thrilled to be able to learn at such a strong University, both academically and athletically. Go Crusaders!”

Grable also excelled in the classroom during her time at NIU, earning Academic All-MAC recognition three times and being named a MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete each of her final three seasons. As a senior, Grable earned a spot on the CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-District V squad. She brings experience to Valpo assisting with NIU’s various softball camps, while she also has volunteered with the So Cal Breakers softball organization.

“Kayti is a true student of the game and one of the best softball players to graduate from NIU,” said Christina Sutcliffe, head coach at NIU. “Her dedication on and off the field shows in everything she does. Kayti is going to become a true role model to those that are lucky enough to play for her at Valpo. She will bring a wealth of knowledge both offensively and defensively. I am excited to see her grow under Coach Stake and continue to help grow the success that the Crusaders have had over the last three years.”

Valpo Announces 2017 Cross Country Schedule
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s cross country teams have unveiled their schedule for the 2017 season, their first year of competition in the Missouri Valley Conference.

For the 24th consecutive year, the season will begin with the Crusader Open at Sunset Hills Farm, which will take place on Friday, Sept. 1. This will mark the 29th running of the Crusader Open. The women’s 5K will begin at 5 p.m. CT, with the men’s 6K slated to get underway at 5:45.

Two weeks later, the Crusaders will return to action as they venture to East Lansing, Mich. for the Spartan Invitational, hosted by Michigan State. The Spartan Invitational, which takes place on Sept. 15, is a new addition to Valpo’s schedule this season and will mark the first time the Crusaders have competed in a meet in the state of Michigan since 2011.

The third meet of the year will be a familiar one for the Crusaders, as they return to the Notre Dame Invitational, a longtime staple on Valpo’s schedule, on Sept. 29. For the fifth straight season, Valpo will participate in the Bradley Classic, which will be held on Oct. 13 in Peoria, Ill. This time, the Crusaders will be participating in a meet hosted by a conference foe as both the Braves and Crusaders call the Missouri Valley Conference home.

The Crusaders will compete in their first Missouri Valley Conference Championship on Saturday, Oct. 28 in Springfield, Mo. This year’s cross country championships will be hosted by Missouri State.

The schedule culminates with the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, which will be held in Terre Haute, Ind. on Nov. 10. The Regional will be in its first year in Terre Haute after five years in Madison, Wis.