The #9 Valparaiso bowling team opened the 2012-2013 season on Saturday at the McKendree Duals/S.I. Elite in Belleville, Ill.

The Crusaders went 1-3 on the first day of competition on Saturday, dropping its first match despite putting together one of the top traditional team games in program history.  Valpo opened the tournament with a 1073, its third-best traditional game score all-time, but fell 1143-1073 to #14 UW-Whitewater.  Freshman Danielle Lynn (Janesville, Wis./Milton) debuted with a 257 against UWW, while fellow rookie Raychel Wolever (Charlotte, Mich./Charlotte) also opened her Crusader career in the same match with a 244.

Valpo followed up by breaking 1000 for the second straight match, but again lost, falling 1147-1037 to #6 Central Missouri.  Fifth-year senior Ashley Busiel (Elk Grove Village, Ill./James B. Conant [Harper College]) led the Crusaders against the Jennies with a 246, while junior Torrie Decker (Van Wert, Ohio/Van Wert [Robert Morris (Ill.)]) posted a 222 and freshman Katherine Sulaitis (Saint Charles, Ill./East) added an even 200.  The Crusaders fell to host McKendree in their third match, 912-875, led by a 194 from Busiel.

Valpo picked up its first win of the season against Elmhurst in its next match, earning a 979-831 victory.  Lynn led the Crusaders for the second time on the day, rolling a 246, while Busiel posted a 226 in the winning effort.  In the final match of the day, which didn’t count towards the won/loss record, the Crusaders rolled a 1049, led by matching 246s from Busiel and redshirt freshman Megan Tenorio (Lake Station, Ind./Edison).

Valparaiso (1-3) closes out the McKendree Duals/S.I. Elite on Sunday.