"Four years ago, the Missouri Valley had different parameters and it was a good decision for them with Loyola to get into the Chicago market. This time they had slightly different parameters, and we were fortunate they felt we best met them — sponsoring all the sports, being in the geographic footprint and, last but not least, men's basketball."</s>VALPARAISO, Ind. (AP) — Valparaiso is officially the newest member of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Indiana college accepted the league’s invitation on Thursday and will join on July 1. The Crusaders have been part of the Horizon League since 2007.

Valparaiso was a rumored finalist in 2013 when Creighton left for the Big East. Valley Commissioner Doug Elgin said the school has continued to upgrade its athletic programs over the past four years.

“I think they are just better suited to take on the new challenges that the Missouri Valley will bring,” Elgin said. “They’ve continued to fund athletics in a very appropriate and progressive way. They certainly have continued to be very strong in men’s basketball.”

The Valley, once among the nation’s top mid-major conferences, has been stung in recent years by the loss of two top men’s basketball programs. Valparaiso will take the place of Wichita State, which is leaving for the American Athletic Conference in time for next season.

Valparaiso has made two NCAA tourney appearances the past six years but its last win in March Madness came in 1998. That was the year the Crusaders upset Mississippi on Bryce Drew’s buzzer-beating shot in the opening round and later advanced to the Sweet 16.

Valparaiso will participate in 16 sports in the conference. The Crusaders’ football program is not expected to join the Missouri Valley Football Conference, which has sent at least one team to the FCS championship game in each of the past six years. Instead, it will continue to play in the non-scholarship Pioneer Football League.

“We are thrilled to join the Missouri Valley Conference,” Valparaiso President Mark Heckler said. “This is an important step forward for all of our athletics programs and an opportunity to advance the national standing of Valparaiso University.”

The Crusaders spent their first four seasons in Division I as an independent before joining the Mid-Continent Conference in 1982. They stayed in the renamed Summit League through 2006-07, then jumped to the Horizon.

While men’s basketball is the highest profile program in the athletic department, it’s certainly not the only successful team.

The men’s tennis team won the 2016 Horizon League title and the baseball team reached the NCAA’s baseball tourney in 2012 and 2013. Valparaiso also has appeared in NCAA tournaments in women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and over the past 21 years.

Elgin did leave open the possibility of the Valley expanding beyond 10 teams in future seasons. He said there is the possibility they might add two teams within the next 12-24 months.</s>There are now three Indiana teams in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Valparaiso University president Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., announced Thursday that the university has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference on July 1. The Crusaders come to the MVC from the Horizon League.

“We are thrilled to join the Missouri Valley Conference,” President Dr. Mark Heckler said in a statement. “This is an important step forward for all of our athletics programs and an opportunity to advance the national standing of Valparaiso University. The Valley is one of the nation’s most historic athletic conferences, and we look forward to actively engaging with its outstanding member institutions and Valley leadership to strengthen both the conference and Valpo Athletics.”

Since the start of the 2011–2012 season, the Crusaders have made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances — three in softball; two each in baseball, men’s basketball, and men’s tennis; and one apiece in women’s soccer and men’s golf.

“We are truly excited to welcome Valparaiso to our family,” MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin said in a release. “Valpo has a great tradition in athletics and a strong academic profile; they’ll be a great fit in all of the sports the Missouri Valley Conference offers.”

The MVC is the nation’s second-oldest NCAA Division I athletics conference. Valparaiso will join the following members of the Missouri Valley Conference Bradley University, Drake University, the University of Evansville, Illinois State University, Indiana State University, Loyola University Chicago, Missouri State University, Southern Illinois University and the University of Northern Iowa.</s>ST. LOUIS – 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,” said MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Valpo brings a combination of strong athletics tradition and academic excellence, and will be a great fit competing in our league.”

“This is an exciting time for Valparaiso University and our athletics programs,” said Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., president. “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.”

President Dan Bradley, Chair of the MVC Presidents Council, adds: “Valparaiso University has very high academic standards, and will be a wonderful addition to the league. Valpo also has a strong, recognized athletics brand, and many Missouri Valley members are excited at the opportunity to renew old rivalries.”

“The opportunity to become a part of the Missouri Valley Conference is both exciting and humbling,” said Valparaiso Director of Athletics Mark LaBarbera. “It is a recognition of the hard work and commitment of all the coaches and student-athletes that have established the Valpo Athletics tradition. At the same time, it is a challenge to our current and future coaches and student-athletes to continue to grow and improve as we join with nine highly competitive, successful, and nationally recognized universities. As we anticipate the upcoming 2017–2018 season, we are filled with renewed energy.”

Current MVC membership (as of July 1, 2017) includes Bradley University (Peoria, Ill.); Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa); the University of Evansville (Evansville, Ind.); Illinois State University (Bloomington-Normal, Ill.); Indiana State University (Terre Haute, Ind.); Loyola University Chicago (Chicago, Ill.); Missouri State University (Springfield, Mo.); the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, Iowa); Southern Illinois University (Carbondale); and Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Ind.).

The Crusaders spent their first four seasons in Division I as an independent before joining the Mid-Continent Conference in 1982. They stayed in the remained Summit League through 2006-07, then jumped to the Horizon League.

Their men’s basketball program is well known for Bryce Drew’s buzzer-beating shot to upset Mississippi and put the team in the Sweet 16 of the 1998 NCAA Tournament.

It was the third straight NCAA appearance for a school that received seven tourney bids during that nine-year stretch. The Crusaders returned to the tournament in 2013 and 2015 as the Horizon League tourney champs — with Drew as coach — but have not won an NCAA Tourney game since 1998.

From the moment Homer Drew, Bryce’s father, was named the head coach before the 1988-89 season, one of the Drews was in charge of the program every years through 2015-16.

After the eldest Drew announced his first retirement following the 2001-02 season, his oldest son succeeded him. Scott Drew stuck around for one season before taking over at Baylor.

Homer Drew then returned to the sideline in 2003-04 and coached until he was succeeded by his other son in 2011-12. Bryce Drew led the Crusaders to NCAA appearances in 2013 and 2015 before taking the Vanderbilt job in 2016. His replacement, Matt Lottich, was promoted from assistant coach.

While basketball is the highest profile program in the athletic department, it’s certainly not the only successful team.

The men’s tennis team won the 2016 Horizon League title and the baseball team reached the NCAA’s baseball tourney in 2012 and 2013. Valparaiso also has appeared in NCAA tournaments in women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and over the past 21 years.

Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook</s>The Missouri Valley Conference President's Council has ratified the membership of Valparaiso University. All Valparaiso's sponsored sports will begin conference play in the fall of 2017.

That does not include football in which Valparaiso plays in the Pioneer League.

The MVC is 110 years old and Valparaiso of Indiana is the 34th different member in that time. Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin said Valpo brings a combination of strong athletics tradition and academic excellence, and will be a great fit competing in the league.

Mark A. Heckler, Ph.D., president of Valparaiso said this is an exciting development.

“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,” said Heckler.

President Dan Bradley, Chair of the MVC Presidents Council, added Valparaiso University has very high academic standards, and will be a wonderful addition to the league.

"Valpo also has a strong, recognized athletics brand, and many Missouri Valley members are excited at the opportunity to renew old rivalries,” said Bradley.

Founded in 1859, Valparaiso University is an independent Lutheran institution, located in Valparaiso, Ind., approximately one hour east of Chicago. It has more than 4,000 students, five colleges, a graduate school, and a law school.</s>Youngstown State forward Mary Dunn has been named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week for the period ending Feb. 19, the conference office announced on Monday.

This is the fourth time that Dunn has been named the league's Freshman of the Week, which is the most in the conference. YSU is also the only school in the Horizon League to have two different players named the conference Freshman of the Week as Morgan Brunner earned the honor once.

Dunn averaged 12 points and shot better than 54 percent in each of YSU's games last week. She scored 18 points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds in the Penguins' overtime win over Northern Kentucky on Thursday. She then scored six points on Saturday versus Wright State. Dunn combined to go 9-for-16 from the field for the week, and she made 6-of-7 from the free-throw line.

In addition to being named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week a league-leading four times, Dunn has done plenty more to be a top candidate for the conference's Freshman-of-the-Year Award. She leads all Horizon League freshmen in points per game (11.3), field-goal percentage (.515) and blocks (18). She is the only freshman to rank among the league's top 30 scorers this season.

Youngstown State will conclude the regular season this week with two home games at Beeghly Center. The Penguins will host Oakland on Thursday at 7 p.m., and they'll host Detroit Mercy on Saturday at noon.</s></s>Several athletes from North Lincoln were named to the North Piedmont 3A/4A’s all-conference teams in their respective sports.

On the baseball diamond, Trevor Whitley, Tyler McPeak and Ty Lilly were named to the all-conference squad. The trio led North Lincoln to a record of 8-6 in the team’s final season as a member of the conference.

Karson Parker and Mia Duvall were named to the all-conference softball team. The Lady Knights finished 6-8 in the North Piedmont 3A/4A, two games behind fourth-place West Iredell.

North Lincoln’s Austin Devine was the only Knight to make the NPC all-conference tennis team, and Rachel Rios was the lone Lady Knight listed on the girl’s soccer all-conference squad.

Aaron Digh and Conner Bain were named to the North Piedmont all-conference golf team. The Knights golf team had a good season, finishing third in a very strong league.

In track & field, Chandler McCaslin and Brian Risse were named all-conference, with McCaslin earning the female track athlete of the year award.

Baseball Player of the Year: R.J. Connor – Statesville, Pitcher of the Year: Zach Brzykcy-Alexander Central; Softball Player of the Year: Talon LaClair-West Iredell, Pitcher of the Year: Joelle Davis-Mooresville; Soccer Player of the Year: Brooke Freeman-South Iredell; Golfer of the Year: Stone Dyson-South Iredell; Tennis Player of the Year: Brian Dow-Lake Norman.
The Missouri Valley Conference officially announces that Valparaiso University will join the conference on July 1. The Crusaders will move from the Horizon League to replace the Wichita State Shockers, departing for the American Athletic Conference on the same date.