Jessie Fox (Granger, Ind./Penn) was named the Tournament's Most Valuable Player and was one of four Crusaders selected to the All-Tournament Team at the Chicagoland Classic over the weekend in Chicago, Ill.

Fox, one of two Valpo seniors, led the Brown and Gold with 42 kills during the three-match tournament, hitting a sparkling .311 in the process. The Crusaders won their first match Friday night, 3-1 over host UIC, and beat DePaul 3-0 and Loyola (Chicago) 3-2 on Saturday to win the tournament title.

Joining Fox on the All-Tournament team were sophomores Allison Sears (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) and Brittany Marks (Elkhart, Ind./Memorial) and freshman Angie Porché (Lynwood, Ill./Thornton-Fractional South).

Sears set a career-high with 14 kills on Friday night and came back with 13 more Saturday night against the Ramblers. The 6'0" middle blocker finished the weekend with 35 kills and a team-high 13 blocks, including a career-best seven in Saturday's late match.

Marks, Valpo's libero, had a big weekend defensively with 63 digs, an average of 5.25 per game. The sophomore tallied double-digit digs in each match, and set a career-high with 26 digs Saturday against Loyola (Chicago).

One of four Crusader freshmen, all of whom saw time over the weekend, Porché shined in her Valpo debut. The 2005 Northwest Indiana Times Player of the Year, Porché had 14 kills Friday night, 12 more Saturday afternoon and capped the weekend with 15 on Saturday night.

The Crusaders (3-0) face several stern tests this weekend at the Shamrock Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind. But before the start of the tournament, Valpo will square off against preseason #6 Santa Clara Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Notre Dame. During tournament play, the Brown and Gold will take on #21 Notre Dame Friday night, and #13 Missouri and Idaho on Saturday. All four of this weekend's match will be carried live on 95.1 FM, WVUR, and online at www.valpo.edu/athletics.