VALPARAISO | With the first exhibition game of the year just eight days away, the Valparaiso women's basketball roster just got lighter.

Fifth-year senior Sarah Ott decided to forego her final year of eligibility to concentrate on preparing for graduate school. The civil engineering major has been on the Dean's List at Valparaiso every semester and has been spending much of the fall semester on graduate school visits.

"We're very supportive of Sarah and that she is working to fulfill her academic goals," Crusader coach Keith Freeman said. "We wish her luck in what she is hoping to achieve."

Ott has started for much of the last two years, including all 30 games last season. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 8.2 points and 4.0 rebounds per contest last season and was one of five starters that were to return to the Crusaders this year.

"We are who we are," Freeman said. "We would have rather played with Sarah, but we also understand the decision and it became apparent that it (playing) was going to be difficult."

Ott's departure opens up more opportunities for sophomores Ashley Varner and Katie Emig, as well as junior college transfers Lauren Kenney and Sylwia Zabielewicz.

"I think this puts more pressure on the returnees as well as on the new kids," Freeman said.

Ott was out of town on a graduate school visit and unavailable for comment.

The Crusaders open their exhibition season against Concordia (Wisconsin) on Saturday, November 1.