The #24 Valpo bowling team fell in opening-round action of the 2025 CUSA Championship in Harahan, La. on Wednesday, dropping its matchup against #7 Sam Houston State.
 
Tournament action is conducted in the mega-match format, in which teams bowl a traditional team match, followed by a five-game baker match. If the teams are tied 1-1 at the end of the latter match, they bowl a best-of-seven baker match to determine the winner.
 
Despite having three bowlers break the 200 mark, the Beacons — who were seeded 10^th for the tournament based on RPI at the end of the regular season — fell to the seventh-seeded Bearkats in the traditional match, 1046-948. Jen Patz (Naples, Fla./Naples) paced Valpo with a 209 game, while Alexis Wooley (Fort White, Fla./Fort White) rolled a 208 and Maia Struble (Anchorage, Alaska/Dimond) posted a 203.
 
Valpo got off to a strong start to the five-game baker match, rolling a 207, but still found itself down by seven pins after the opening game. The deficit was 26 pins after game two, and a 205 in game three was only enough to shave one pin off the deficit. SHSU pulled away with games of 234 and 258 to close the match, as the Beacons lost 1112-962 despite a 216 in the finale.
 
With the loss, Valpo (43-43) returns to the lanes in the double-elimination tournament on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m., where the Beacons will take on the loser of Thursday morning's match between fourth-seeded #5 Wichita State and fifth-seeded #6 Arkansas State.