VALPARAISO, Ind. ? Senior Nikki Pierzchala (Sylvania, Ohio/Northview) tallied a team-high eight kills and nine digs, but Bradley fell in its final non-conference road match of the season, losing at Valparaiso 30-17, 30-22, 30-19 Tuesday night.

Valparaiso (11-3 overall) jumped out to an early lead in the opening game and never looked back, cruising to a 30-17 victory.  The Crusaders hit .393 in the first game and limited Bradley to an .062 attack percentage.

The Braves (1-14 overall) led by as many as four points in game two (16-12) and held a 21-20 advantage following a Melissa Collins (Manchester, Mo./Parkway South) kill, before Valparaiso mounted a comeback.  Angie Porche recorded three of her 13 kills to highlight a 9-0 Valparaiso run that put the game out of reach.

Bradley held a 15-13 advantage in the third game before a pair of Porche kills and and pair of Bradley attack errors sparked a six-point Valparaiso run that put the Crusaders ahead 19-15.  A Pierzchala kill ended the Valpo run, but the Crusaders followed with a 7-1 spurt to take a commanding 26-17 lead. 

Pierzchala led the Braves with eight kills and nine digs, while hitting at a .214 clip.  Collins added seven kills, while senior Jenna Harrison (Edwardsville, Ill./Metro East Lutheran) and junior Katrina Goncher (Batavia, Ill./.Aurora Rosary) each added six kills to pace Bradley offensively.

Valparaiso hit .324 as a team and served up 12 service aces in the three-game match.  The Crusaders also owned a 51-35 edge in digs in the match and were led offensively by Val Bollenbacher and Angie Porche, who finished with 14 and 13 kills, respectively.

Bradley returns to action Saturday at preseason Missouri Valley Conference favorite Northern Iowa.  First serve in Cedar Falls, Iowa, is set for 7 p.m.