Welcome to the first installment of The Monday Morning Bell, a new feature that will celebrate the best in Valparaiso athletics. Each week The Victory Bell will recognize some of the top performers across all sports at Valparaiso University in a variety of categories. This week’s edition is free to all readers. Future editions will be available exclusively to paid subscribers.
Athlete of the Week: Jordyn Gove (Volleyball), Jr., OH
Gove couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2026 season, earning MVP honors at the Chattanooga Classic as the Valparaiso volleyball team won all three matches in its season-opening tournament. Gove had 10 kills and 12 digs in the opening comeback victory over UAB, including the game-winning kill to clinch the match. The Texas native came back later Friday evening with a career performance against host Chattanooga as Gove delivered a personal-best 20 kills to go with 12 digs. With the starters resting for much of the third match against Tennessee State, Gove still added eight kills in just two sets while hitting .350 for the match. Including the end of last season, Gove now has at least eight kills in six straight matches for the third time in her career.
Performance of the Week: Chris Gundy (Football), R-Sr., WR
Not even the confines of Brown Field could contain Chris Gundy on Saturday afternoon. The Valparaiso redshirt senior made program history by returning two punts for touchdowns in a 59-13 win over Lawrence Tech. On the second touchdown, a 41-yard return where he danced through Lawrence Tech’s defenders, Gundy eventually ran over a barricade on the outskirts of the end zone. The minor mishap did nothing to dampen the celebration as Gundy ran back into the arms of his teammates and the barricade was easily stood back on its side. Gundy finished with 108 return yards and his two touchdowns marked the first time in program history a player has done that in an entire season, to say nothing of one game. Gundy was named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week on Sunday.
Newcomer of the Week: Maggie Uhwat (Volleyball), Jr., OH
The Central Michigan transfer sure knew how to make a strong first impression for the Beacons. After spending two years with the Chippewas where she reached 11 kills on just one occasion, Uhwat hit that mark in her first two matches with the Beacons. The Spring Grove, Illinois, native had 11 kills, two blocks and a pair of service aces in a comeback victory against UAB. She then added 11 kills and 10 digs to go with three aces against Chattanooga. With the Beacons ailing up front early in the season, Uhwat’s presence has been a welcome addition to the roster.
Stat of the Week: Three punt return touchdowns in one game (Football)
Not only did Chris Gundy return a pair of punts for touchdowns on Saturday, but Bertrand Berry II blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. The three punt-return TDs made Valparaiso just the fourth team in FCS history to accomplish that feat in a single game according to ValpoAthletics.com. The program record for most punt-return TDs in a season is four and that came in 1993.
Quote of the Week
“We were really able to dominate the special teams game. So huge credit to Coach RJ (Ghilarducci) and all those guys that are out there in special teams making stuff happen. That was really awesome to see.” - Valparaiso head football coach Andy Waddle
Bell Ringers
Eve Miller was on the field for all 90 minutes against Western Michigan on Sunday, marking the first time in her career she has played a full game. Miller entered this season with just 38 career minutes played. She’s already been on the field for 274 minutes this season. … Former Valparaiso women’s soccer player Kate Sheridan started in goal for Western Michigan on Sunday for the first time this season and the 2026 Valpo graduate blanked the Beacons in Kalamazoo. … Dating back to last season, Valparaiso quarterback Rowan Keefe has now thrown seven touchdowns in his last three games. His current stretch of 77 pass attempts without an interception is the longest in his career. … Andy Waddle is 2-0 in season openers as Valparaiso’s football coach and the Beacons have outscored their opponents 126-23 in those games. Waddle has won his last five season openers dating back to his time at Marietta and his teams have won those games by a combined score of 226-40. … Rylee Bumgardner had 14 digs and five service aces in her collegiate debut against UAB on Friday. The freshman libero finished the weekend with 30 digs and six aces. … Mara Thomas had 31 assists against Chattanooga on Saturday, marking the third time in her career the senior setter has eclipsed 30 assists, and the first time in a four-set match. … Ava Helming was dominant this weekend, setting a new career high with 22 kills against UAB and then adding 16 kills and four blocks against Chattanooga.
This Week in Valparaiso History
The 2003 Valparaiso volleyball team began its season on Aug. 29 with a pair of wins against Bucknell and Cal State-Fullerton. The Crusaders came back the next day with a pair of sweeps against Nevada and Fordham to win the Four Points Titan Classic in Fullerton, California. Liz Mikos was named the MVP while Cyndi Norman also made the All-Tournament Team. Valparaiso won 12 of 13 sets on the weekend and used the season-opening tournament to launch an eight-match winning streak. The 2003 Crusaders eventually earned a trip to the NCAA tournament, beginning a three-year stretch of consecutive trips to the Big Dance.
Looking Ahead
Thursday, Sept. 3
Soccer: at Purdue Fort Wayne, 3 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 4
Women’s Cross Country: Winrow Valparaiso Open (Sunset Hill County Park), 5 p.m.
Men’s Cross Country: Winrow Valparaiso Open (Sunset Hill County Park), 5:45 p.m.
Volleyball: vs. Cincinnati (Popcorn Classic at Athletics-Recreation Center), 6 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 5
Volleyball: vs. Oakland (Popcorn Classic at Athletics-Recreation Center), 6 p.m.
Sunday, Sept. 6
Soccer: at Milwaukee, 1 p.m.
Volleyball: vs. Michigan (Popcorn Classic at Athletics-Recreation Center), 4 p.m.
Home events in BOLD
Finally, Stone Dixon and Alex Conlin, a pair of 2023 Valparaiso football alums, have organized a Valparaiso Football Alumni Golf Outing for Friday, Oct. 9 at Forest Park Golf Course in Valparaiso. The golf outing will provide a lead-in to Valpo hosting Drake on Saturday, Oct. 10 at Brown Field. Below is a flyer Stone and Alex provided for the event. The alums are aiming to raise money for the Valparaiso football program. More details can be found on the registration website.
(Photos courtesy of Valpo Athletics)