Valparaiso University Athletics Roundup: February 27, 2017

valpo-u-tf-feb-2017Crusaders Wrap Up Horizon League Indoor Championships
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams ended their indoor seasons on Sunday at the Horizon League Indoor Championships, hosted by Youngstown State. Senior Liz Owen (Freedom, Wis. / Freedom) was named the Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships Outstanding Performer in the running events after first and second-place results in two events. The men’s team exited the championships with three Top 5 outcomes and finished fourth, while the women placed seventh.

Offense Breaks Out as Crusaders Bury Blazers http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2016-17/16158/offense-breaks-out-as-crusaders-bury-blazers/
The Valparaiso University baseball team pounded out 15 hits on Sunday afternoon in Birmingham, Ala., as the Crusaders had seven players enjoy multi-hit days in a 9-5 victory over UAB. The win allowed Valpo to salvage one game in the three-game weekend series and achieve a Sunday triumph for the second consecutive week.

Valpo Track & Field Finishes Day 1 of Horizon League Indoor Championships http://www.valpoathletics.com/mtrack/news/2016-17/16157/valpo-track--field-finishes-day-1-of-horizon-league-indoor-championships/
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s track and field teams competed Saturday on Day 1 of the Horizon League Indoor Championships, held at Youngstown State University. The men are in third place with 27 points. One individual and one relay squad left Day 1 with top honors in their events - junior Andrew Guzek (Valparaiso, Ind. / Valparaiso) and the young distance medley relay of freshmen Jack Mader and Bryce Otterbach (Mendota, Ill. / Mendota Township) and sophomores Benjamin Sekuloski (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) and Alexander Bruno (Bloomington, Ill./University).

Another School Record Highlights Final Day At HL Swimming Championships http://www.valpoathletics.com/mswim/news/2016-17/16156/another-school-record-highlights-final-day-at-hl-swimming-championships/
Valparaiso University junior Max Penn (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) broke his own school record twice in the 200 backstroke Saturday, highlighting the Crusaders’ performances on the final day of the Horizon League Swimming Championships in Chicago as their 2016-17 season came to a close.

Crusader Bats Quiet in Saturday Loss to UAB http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2016-17/16155/crusader-bats-quiet-in-saturday-loss-to-uab/
Valparaiso University baseball player Nate Palace continued his hot start to his senior campaign by launching a home run, but the remainder of the Crusader battles were quiet in Saturday’s 3-2 loss to UAB at Regions Field in Birmingham, Ala. Easton Rhodehouse (Gilbert, Ariz. / Highland) continued his strong start to the season with 2 2/3 scoreless frames of relief.

Crusaders Top Flames on Senior Day, Play Youngstown State in Horizon League Tournament http://www.valpoathletics.com/wbasketball/news/2016-17/16154/crusaders-top-flames-on-senior-day-play-youngstown-state-in-horizon-league-tournament/
The Valparaiso University women’s basketball team ended the regular season on a positive note for the second consecutive year, defeating UIC 72-63 on Saturday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center. In the process, the Crusaders latched down the No. 9 seed in the Horizon League Tournament and a date with No. 8 Youngstown State in the first round.

School Record Falls On Day Three of HL Swim Championships http://www.valpoathletics.com/mswim/news/2016-17/16152/school-record-falls-on-day-three-of-hl-swim-championships/
The Valparaiso University men’s and women’s swimming team wrapped up day three of the Horizon League Championships on Friday in Chicago, setting more milestones in the water. Junior Max Penn (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) broke his own school record in the 100-yard backstroke, while seniors Rachel Law (Wayne, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) and Emily Trimpe (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) and sophomore Dylan Kirar (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley) also placed in event finals on Friday.

Crusaders Lose Opener at UAB http://www.valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2016-17/16150/crusaders-lose-opener-at-uab/
The Valparaiso University baseball team entered Friday in a select group of NCAA teams that had not committed an error yet this season, but two miscues in the sixth inning led to two unearned insurance tallies in an eventual 5-1 loss to UAB. The Crusaders (1-3) grabbed an early lead, but their bats were stymied for the rest of the day by UAB (4-1) starter Garrett Whitlock, who went the distance.

Men’s Tennis Opens League Play in Style http://www.valpoathletics.com/mtennis/news/2016-17/16149/mens-tennis-opens-league-play-in-style/
The Valparaiso University men’s tennis team officially began its quest to repeat as Horizon League regular season champions on Friday afternoon at the Courts of Northwest Indiana. For the first time in program history, the Crusaders played a league match as the defending champions and outright league favorites, distinctions they lived up to with a 7-0 win over UIC.