(Photo By Flickr User Horizon League)

Valparaiso University has accepted an invitation to join the Missouri Valley Conference, effective July 1st.

According to mvc-sports.com, pjstar.com, and valpo.edu, the Valley extended the invitation earlier this month, but officials at Valparaiso were silent until early Thursday morning, when the university issued a news release.

Valparaiso president Mark A. Heckler said in the release,

“We are thrilled to join the Missouri Valley Conference. This is an important step forward for all of our athletics programs and an opportunity to advance the national standing of Valparaiso University.”

Valparaiso will replace longtime Valley member Wichita State University, which in April accepted an invitation to jump to the American Athletic Conference.

With Valpo’s addition, MVC membership remains at 10.

Valley administration previously announced a committee is exploring possible expansion to 12 teams, but no decision is expected for several months at least.