ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri Valley Conference President's Council unanimously voted to extend a membership invitation to Valparaiso University, and the Crusaders will begin full participation in all its sponsored sports effective for the 2017-18 season.
"We are truly excited to welcome Valparaiso University to our Missouri Valley Conference family," MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin said. "Valpo brings a combination of strong athletics tradition and academic excellence, and will be a great fit competing in our league."
Valparaiso sports' sponsorship includes all 17 sports in which the MVC conducts a championship, including men's and women's basketball, men's and women's soccer, volleyball, softball, baseball, men's and women's indoor and outdoor track & field, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, women's tennis and women's swimming. Valpo also offers football (Pioneer Football League), men's tennis, men's swimming, and women's bowling (Southland Bowling League).
"This is an exciting time for Valparaiso University and our athletics programs," Valparaiso President Dr. Mark A. Heckler said ."We are fortunate to join the historic, tradition-rich Missouri Valley Conference. Membership in the Valley will increase the national profile of our institution and our athletics program, and we will undoubtedly contribute to the strength and character of the conference.
Valpo has been regionally and nationally competitive in athletics with six regular-season titles, two tournament titles, three NIT appearances and two NCAA Tournament appearances in men's basketball in the past six years. Baseball has yielded a regular-season title, two tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances in the past five years, while men's golf, women's soccer and softball have also competed in the NCAA Tournament at least once in the past five seasons. The city of Valparaiso, Ind., fits the MVC footprint, with an average distance of 271 miles to the league's other nine institutions.Â
"We are excited for the opportunity to become members of the Missouri Valley Conference," Mark LaBarbera, Valpo director of athletics said. "The Valley is renowned for the success of its schools and their student-athletes across all sports. During each chapter of Valpo Athletics' more than 100-year history — from our days in the Indiana Collegiate Conference, to the Mid-Continent Conference, and to the Horizon League — we have enjoyed quality competition and our teams have growing success. We are excited about this next chapter, renewing historic rivalries, creating new rivalries and continuing the forward momentum of Valpo Athletics."
Illinois State Director of Athletics Larry Lyons believes the Crusaders are a great fit for the Missouri Valley Conference.
"We are excited to welcome Valpo to the league," Lyons said. "They are a very good fit academically and athletically. We look forward to working with (Director of Athletics) Mark LaBarbera and his staff as they transition into the league and begin competition in 2017-18."
Valpo makes the move to the Missouri Valley Conference after spending the last decade as a member of the Horizon League. Valpo joined the Horizon League prior to the 2007–2008 academic year, following a 25-year run as members of the Mid-Continent Conference, dating back to the conference's inception in the 1982–1983 season.
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