The Valparaiso volleyball squad has been predicted to finish third in its first season of Horizon League play as chosen by the league’s nine head coaches.  The Crusaders tallied 50 points and received two first-place votes.

            Each of the coaches ranked the teams one through eight, omitting their own squad from the voting.  Teams received eight points for a first-place vote down to one point for an eighth-place vote.  Milwaukee garnered five first-place votes and totaled 58 points to lead the balloting.  Cleveland State was chosen second, tallying 52 points, including one vote in the top spot.  Valpo was followed by UIC, which received the final first-place vote en route to 47 points, and Green Bay, which totaled 34 points.  Loyola (30), Wright State (24), Butler (16) and Youngstown State (13) rounded out the voting.

            The Crusaders kick off the season August 24 when they take on Miami [Ohio] at Illinois State’s Redbird Classic.