Butler and Valparaiso Meet for Horizon League Volleyball Title

New 2010 Vb Bracket

Butler and Valparaiso meet for the first time in the final round of the 2010 Horizon League Volleyball Championship.  The championship match will be played on Sunday at the Klotsche Center in Milwaukee, Wis.

In the first semifinal match on Saturday, No. 4 Valparaiso upset top-seeded Milwaukee 3-0 (25-7, 27-25, 25-23).  The Crusaders recorded a .287 hitting percentage and their defensive efforts held the Panthers to a .108 hitting clip.  This is only the second time since 2006 that Milwaukee did not appear in the championship match.   The Crusaders defeated the Panthers in the semifinal round on both occasions (2007, 2010).  Valparaiso improved to 26-7 with the win, while Milwaukee finished the season at 20-9.

No. 2 Butler will also advance to the championship match after defeating No. 3 Cleveland State 3-2 (15-18, 16-25, 25-20, 27-29, 15-7), in the second semifinal match on Saturday.  The Bulldogs’ defense kept the Vikings’ hitting to .138, bringing their record to 20-9 with the win.  Cleveland State concludes its season with a 22-7 mark, the first time since 2006 that the Vikings did not advance to the final match.

Valparaiso and Butler will meet in the championship match on Sunday at 2pm ET for the conference title.   The tournament champion will receive an automatic berth into the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

The 2010 Horizon League Volleyball Championship match is set for 2pm ET and can be seen live on the Horizon League Network.