Valparaiso University Sports Update, October 26, 2016

Volleyball Takes Down Fort Wayne Tuesday Night
The Valparaiso University volleyball team continued its strong play despite its out-of-system offensive system Tuesday night in its final non-league matchup of the year at Fort Wayne, downing the Mastodons by a 3-1 (25-14, 21-25, 28-26, 25-22) final.

How It Happened

The Crusaders cruised to a first-set win, going on a 12-4 spurt to close the opener. Valpo took advantage of eight Fort Wayne unforced attack errors in the set to go ahead.
The second set went the way of the Mastodons, as they went on a 7-2 run to break a 15-15 tie and pull ahead 22-17. The Crusaders would close to within 23-21, but Fort Wayne scored the final two points of the set to even the match at one set apiece.
The third set would prove to be the tightest, featuring 15 ties and eight lead changes. Valpo trailed early 10-6, but fought its way back to pull ahead at 16-15. The Crusaders pulled out to a two-point lead at 20-18, the largest lead either side would have the rest of the set.
On a fifth consecutive side-out, a kill from senior Emily Campbell (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Central) gave Valpo set point at 24-23. Two points later, the Crusaders were staring the possibility of a 2-1 deficit in the face, but another kill by Campbell extended the set, making it 25-25.
A service ace from sophomore Katherine Carlson (Lake Orion, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) gave Valpo a second set point opportunity at 26-25, but it was thwarted by a Fort Wayne kill. Yet another termination by Campbell created a third chance to close out the key set, and this time Valpo came through with a block from sophomore Sydney Bronner (Frankenmuth, Mich./Frankenmuth) and junior Taylor Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio/Upper Sandusky).
Fort Wayne pulled ahead to an early 7-2 lead in set four, but a five-point spurt quickly evened up the set. Valpo would take the lead for good at 11-10, and while the Crusaders were never able to pull away, they kept the Mastodons from putting together any runs, as the two squads closed the match with seven consecutive side-outs – capped by a kill from Campbell.

Inside the Match

Senior Morganne Longoria (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) recorded her sixth straight double-double – after entering the stretch with no career double-doubles – and second 20-20 effort of the year from the libero position, matching her career best with 28 assists and also tallying 24 digs. Since the move to the out-of-system offensive attack, the two-time defending Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week is averaging 5.91 assists and 5.73 digs per set.
Carlson nearly recorded her second triple-double in the last three matches, helping out with second balls as well. The sophomore hit .324 with 13 kills in Tuesday’s win while also posting 11 digs and eight assists.
Campbell finished with a team-best 15 kills and added 14 digs, while Graboski had a strong offensive match as well, hitting .282 with 14 kills.
Senior Lexie Bouza (Elgin, Ill./Burlington Central) finished in double figures in digs for the fifth time this season, recording 12 digs, and also helped out in the attack with six assists.
As a team, Valpo hit at a .227 clip in Tuesday’s win – three of the Crusaders’ top-six hitting percentages on the year have come in the last six matches.
Tuesday’s win guaranteed the Crusaders at worst a .500 record outside of league play this season – the 15th consecutive year Valpo has gone at least .500 outside of the league.

Next Up
The Crusaders (12-15) make the trek to northeast Ohio this week, facing off first with Cleveland State Friday evening at 6 p.m. CT. The match can be seen live on ESPN3, WatchESPN and the ESPN app, with links for the live video and live stats available via ValpoAthletics.com.

Kim Leads Crusaders on Final Day of Fall Competition
The Valparaiso University women’s golf team rounded out its fall schedule with the second and final round of the Braun Intercollegiate at Oak Meadow Country Club in Evansville, Ind. on Tuesday. The Crusaders turned in a two-round team score of 636 to place fifth in the 10-team event.

How It Happened

Senior Angie Kim (Schaumberg, Ill. / Fremd) tied for fourth overall with a 152 over the two days to lead the Crusaders. She stroked a 76 on Tuesday.
Freshman Tiffany Curtis (Crown Point / Crown Point, Ind.), competing as an individual, posted a 77 to finish the event at 160 and tie for 20th.
Freshman Kayla Krueger (Spring Lake, Mich. / Spring Lake), competing as an individual, carded an 80 to finish in a tie for 41st.
Junior Katie Willenbrink (Mishawaka, Ind. / Penn) carded an 83 on Tuesday to finish tied for eighth overall. She posted a 74 on Monday and finished with a 36-hole score of 157.
Sophomore Kylie Shoemake finished with an 82, Valpo’s second-best round on Tuesday. She totaled 162 over the two days, tying for 26th.
Senior Sydney Shrum (Cloverdale, Ind. / Cloverdale) carded an 83 to finish at 166, while Madison McCreary (Batesville, Ind. / Batesville) stroked an 88 to complete the event at 170.

Inside the Rounds

Curtis enjoyed the best round of her collegiate career on Tuesday, bettering her previous career best of 78 by one stroke.
Kim’s 76 was one stroke above her season best.
Valpo’s fifth-place finish was the team’s best of the fall in an event that featured 10 or more teams.
Evansville won the team title with a 617, while Butler (620) and Indiana State (622) rounded out a tight top three. Horizon League foe Northern Kentucky overtook the Crusaders on Tuesday, finishing at 625 in fourth place.

Thoughts from Coach Josh Kalita
"We knew we had a good opportunity today but didn't take advantage of it. We got off to a poor start and didn't rally back - it's really difficult to apply any pressure on the leading teams if you don't get off on the right foot.

We were able to finish the round decently over the last few holes. Angie played her last four holes in one-under, Kylie made four solid pars in her last five and Katie had a solid back-nine.

The second round performances from Tiffany and Kayla were great to see. Both players were able to work out some of the kinks from round one and had our second and third lowest rounds for the day. Getting another tournament under their belt is valuable experience as they prepare for the spring season.

The ladies know they have the potential to compete in these events, so I think this will help push them forward."

Next Up
Tuesday marked the final day of the fall season. The Crusaders will return to the course on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Ball State Sunshine Invitational in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Women’s Golf Third After One Round at Braun Intercollegiate
The Valparaiso University women’s golf team sits in third place of 10 teams at the Braun Intercollegiate in Evansville, Ind. with a team score of 312 after the event’s first round on Monday. Junior Katie Willenbrink (Mishawaka, Ind. / Penn) is Valpo’s top performer through one day of competition.

How It Happened

Willenbrink stroked a 74, putting her in a tie for fourth overall.
Senior Angie Kim (Schaumburg, Ill. / Fremd) is tied for seventh after one round. She stroked a 76 to rank second on the Crusaders.
Sophomore Kylie Shoemake (Schererville, Ind. / Lake Central) posted an 80 and is tied for 15th.
Sophomore Madison McCreary Batesville, Ind. / Batesville) carded an 82, while senior Sydney Shrum (Cloverdale, Ind. / Cloverdale) scored an 83.
Freshman Tiffany Curtis (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) and freshman Kayla Krueger (Spring Lake, Mich. / Spring Lake) are competing as individuals in the event. Curtis is tied for 29th with an 83, while Krueger posted an 89 on the first day of competition.

Inside the Rounds

Willenbrink’s score was one stroke over her career best of 73. Kim also missed a season best by one stroke.
Entering the second and final round on Tuesday, the Crusaders are just nine strokes in back of first-place Evansville. They are four strokes out of second place, which is currently occupied by Butler.
The Crusaders own a five-stroke lead on fourth-place Indiana State and a seven-stroke advantage on Horizon League foe Northern Kentucky, which sits in fifth place.

Quotes from Coach Josh Kalita
"Overall the ladies played pretty solidly today and we are pleased with our performance in the first round. We came ready to compete and put ourselves in a good position heading into the final round. You want to be 'in the hunt' playing in the final groups for the last round and we have that opportunity. The ladies prepared well over the past few days and have really been focusing on making the game simple - we are excited to give them a run tomorrow. If we focus on giving ourselves good looks and playing our own game that just might happen.

“Katie and Angie were great leaders for the team today. Katie didn't have her best stuff, but her ball was in play and her short game was solid which kept her card clean. That's the approach you have to have and it sets a good example for the other ladies. Angie was really consistent throughout the round which gave her the opportunity to make a lot of pars. Kylie also added a solid round; she did a good job of keeping it in play and fought to post another good score for the team."

Next Up
Round 2 of the Braun Intercollegiate will take place on Tuesday. It will be the final round of the fall season for the Crusaders.

Emhardt, Schorsch Drop Dramatic Doubles Final at ITA Midwest Regional
Valparaiso University men’s tennis players Jeffrey Schorsch (Perrysburg, Ohio / Perrysburg) and Charlie Emhardt (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) saw their run of success at the ITA Midwest Regional in Columbus, Ohio come to a halt with a loss in Monday’s doubles championship.

How It Happened

Schorsch and Emhardt lost a compelling, intense final match to Michigan’s Jathan Malik and Kevin Wong.
Emhardt and Schorsch grabbed the opening set 7-6 (6). They were down 2-3, Love 40 in the first set, but captured eight straight points to go up 4-3 and swing the set in their favor.
Malik and Wong responded to even the match with a 7-6 (6) triumph of their own in Set 2.
The title was decided by a back-and-forth match tiebreaker, won by Michigan 15-13. The Crusaders overcame an early hole to extend the superbreaker.
Malik and Wong receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing, N.Y.
The Crusader duo finished as the ITA Midwest Regional runner-up for the second consecutive year.

Next Up
The final weekend of fall competition for the Crusaders will take place from Oct. 28-30. The Crusaders round out the fall slate by partaking in the Illinois State Invitational in Normal, Ill.

How It Happened

Schorsch and Emhardt lost a compelling, intense final match to Michigan’s Jathan Malik and Kevin Wong.
Emhardt and Schorsch grabbed the opening set 7-6 (6). They were down 2-3, Love 40 in the first set, but captured eight straight points to go up 4-3 and swing the set in their favor.
Malik and Wong responded to even the match with a 7-6 (6) triumph of their own in Set 2.
The title was decided by a back-and-forth match tiebreaker, won by Michigan 15-13. The Crusaders overcame an early hole to extend the superbreaker.
Malik and Wong receive automatic entry into the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in Flushing, N.Y.
The Crusader duo finished as the ITA Midwest Regional runner-up for the second consecutive year.

Next Up
The final weekend of fall competition for the Crusaders will take place from Oct. 28-30. The Crusaders round out the fall slate by partaking in the Illinois State Invitational in Normal, Ill.

Longoria Repeats As League Player of the Week
Valparaiso University senior libero Morganne Longoria (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) has repeated as the Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week after another strong week setting in addition to her back-row duties.

Longoria continued to function as Valpo’s primary setter while playing libero for the second consecutive week, averaging 5.55 digs and 5.09 assists per set over last week’s three matches as the Crusaders went 2-1. The senior posted 16 assists and 12 digs in Valpo’s sweep of Chicago State on Tuesday, and finished with 13 digs and 14 assists against Northern Kentucky on Saturday.

Friday’s five-set victory over Wright State was the highlight of the week, however. Longoria picked up a new career high with 36 digs, easily out-pacing her previous career best of 30, and found the time to hand out 26 assists as well – just two shy of her career high set the previous week. Longoria registered 11 digs and five assists in the fifth set as the Crusaders completed the crucial league win. Her 36 digs mark the fifth-most in a five-set match in Valpo history.

Longoria is the first Crusader player to earn league weekly honors in back-to-back weeks since Taylor Root did so in the first two weeks of the 2010 campaign.