Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Valparaiso University’s women’s basketball team will be heading to China for 10 days in August as NCAA Division I programs are permitted to take one foreign trip every four years.

“We are privileged to be able to have an educational opportunity of this magnitude” head coach Keith Freeman said of the trip. “This will be a great opportunity for our team to learn about a different culture and grow as a team.”

The Crusaders are scheduled to play three games during the trip, in which the Brown and Gold will leave on Aug. 6 and return to the United States on Aug. 15.  Valpo will also take part in other basketball related activities with the Chinese, including camps.

Valpo will be visiting Hangzhou, where the team will be playing its games, before spending the final few days in Beijing visiting Tiananmen and the Great Wall.

NCAA rules allow for teams participating in summer international tours to practice for 10 days leading up to the trip.  Valpo will begin practice on July 20 in preparation for the games that will be played in China.