VALPARAISO, Ind. �€" The Oral Roberts University volleyball team fell just short of its seventh Mid-Continent Conference tournament title, falling to Valparaiso, 3-1 (30-26, 30-28, 28-30, 30-15), in the Mid-Con title match at Valpo's Athletics-Recreation Center, Sunday afternoon. The victory marked the Crusaders third straight league title and subsequent NCAA birth.

Outside hitter Ori Zuzic (Porec, Croatia) and rightside hitter Jackie Oliveira (Minas Gerais, Brazil) both recorded double-doubles for ORU (22-11), as Zuzic finished the match with 23 kills and 17 digs, while Oliveira added 17 kills and 16 digs.

Zuzic, the 2005 Mid-Con Player of the Year, became the conference's all-time leader in kills during the tournament, surpassing former Golden Eagle Patricia Menezes for the top spot. In just three seasons Zuzic has recorded 1,693 kills, 24 more markers than Menezes' 1,669 from 1999-2002.

Valpo used a strong defensive effort to overcome ORU in the title match, limiting the Golden Eagles to a mere .132 attack percentage. The Crusader defense also registered 96 digs and 19 blocks.

The Golden Eagles finished the match with more kills than Valpo (62-60), but their 35 attack errors proved to be too much to overcome.

Oliveira was named to the all-tournament team for ORU where she was joined by teammate Kim Snow (DeKalb, Ill.), IUPUI's Casey Chrzastowski, Western Illinois' Jenna Yurs, and Valpo's Liz Mikos (MVP), Jessie Fox, and Tiffany Meikle.

-ORU-