The ball is ready

The 2025-26 season starts this week for Valparaiso Athletics

Activity has been slowly building inside the Athletics-Recreation Center over the last two weeks.

The Valparaiso soccer team arrived on campus in late July, followed closely by the football team several days later. The volleyball team moved back to campus earlier this week and the cross-country teams will be following in short order.

With each new team arriving on campus, the anticipation has only grown stronger for the upcoming 2025-26 athletic campaign.

Valpo’s soccer team, fresh off a victory against DePaul in an exhibition match, will begin its season this Thursday at Detroit. Carin Avery will lead the Beacons down to West Lafayette for a volleyball exhibition against Purdue on Friday before opening the year at Southern Indiana on Aug. 29. The men’s and women’s cross country programs will also kickstart their competition on Aug. 29 with the 36th annual Winrow-Valparaiso Open. Andy Waddle will make his much-anticipated debut as Valparaiso’s new football coach at Brown Field on Aug. 30 against Virginia Lynchburg.

The Victory Bell will be running three straight weeks of coverage beginning on Monday, Aug. 11. Over the next three weeks, paid subscribers will get access to 19 positional previews looking at all four fall sports.

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Women’s Soccer

Monday, Aug. 11 - Goalies

Tuesday, Aug. 12 - Defenders

Wednesday, Aug. 13 - Midfielders

Thursday, Aug. 14 - Forwards

Football

Saturday, Aug. 16 - Specialists

Sunday, Aug. 17 - Tight Ends

Tuesday, Aug. 19 - Defensive Line

Thursday, Aug. 21 - Offensive Line

Saturday, Aug. 23 - Linebackers

Sunday, Aug. 24 - Wide Receivers

Tuesday, Aug. 26 - Defensive Backs

Thursday, Aug. 28 - Running Backs

Saturday, Aug. 30 - Quarterbacks

Volleyball

Monday, Aug. 18 - Setters

Wednesday, Aug. 20 - Middle Hitters

Friday, Aug. 22 - Outside Hitters

Monday, Aug. 25 - Right Side

Wednesday, Aug. 27 - Liberos/Defensive Specialists

Cross Country

Aug. 29 - Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Season Preview

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Each of the 19 positional (or season) previews will include an in-depth breakdown of returners and newcomers as well as a feature story highlighting the positional group.

It’s been 85 days since Valparaiso competed in a regular-season contest and there are just 85 hours until the ball is kicked. It’s go time.

(Photos courtesy of Valpo Athletics)