September 3, 2000 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rhonda Volkers named MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - For the third time in her career, Calvin College
senior Rhonda Volkers has been named MIAA Player of the Week in
volleyball. A middle-hitter, Volkers helped lead Calvin to the
championship of the Hornet Invitational this past weekend at Kalamazoo
College as the Knights posted four victories.
A native of Zeeland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School,
Volkers finished the weekend with 73 kills, 32 digs, 19 blocks, five
service aces and a hitting percentage of .331 in 15 games played. In a
13-15, 15-12, 15-4, 14-16, 15-7 semifinal win over Anderson, Volkers
collected 25 kills, 14 digs and seven blocks. In a 15-9, 15-12, 15-12
win over Millikin in the championship final, she tallied 19 kills, seven
blocks and three service aces. For her efforts, Volkers was named to
the all-tournament team.
Volkers is a two-time first team All-MIAA and Great Lakes All-Region
selection. As a junior, she was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player
and was later named a second team All-American by the American
Volleyball Coaches Association.
Calvin is currently ranked 18th in the first AVCA Division III Top-20
national poll. The defending MIAA champion Knights will open defense of
their league title Tuesday night at 6:30 pm when they host Olivet at the
Calvin Fieldhouse. Calvin will then host rival Hope Saturday at 11:00
a.m. and follow with a non-conference match against Cornerstone later
that afternoon.
REPORT FOR SATURDAY, September 2, 2000
VOLLEYBALL
Calvin captured the championship of the Hornet Invitational Saturday
afternoon in Kalamazoo as the Knights defeated Anderson (IN) 13-15,
15-12, 15-4, 14-16, 15-7 in pool play and continued on to defeat
Millikin (IL) 15-9, 15-12, 15-12 in the championship match. Ranked 18th
in the first AVCA Division III national poll of the year, Calvin
improved to 4-0 on the year with the pair of victories.
Senior All-American Rhonda Volkers (Holland Christian) was the catalyst
throughout the afternoon for Calvin as she tallied 25 kills, 14 digs and
seven blocks against Anderson and followed with 19 kills, seven blocks
and three service aces in the win against Millikin. For her efforts,
Volkers was named to the all-tournament team.
Ann Wiersma (Vista, CA) was also strong for the Knights, collecting 12
kills and 11 digs against Anderson and 12 digs and seven kills against
Millikin. Junior setter Sara Ahrenholz was credited with 55 assists and
three aces against Anderson and 37 assists in the championship tilt
against Millikin. In addition, sophomore Melissa Pell (Fremont) added
10 kills against Anderson while senior Alicia DeGroot (Tulare, CA) had
three aces and sophomore Cassie Christopher (Fruitport) five blocks in
the match. Junior Michelle Bowen (Troy) chipped in with seven kills in
the win over Millikin.
Calvin returns to action Tuesday night when it hosts Olivet at 6:30 pm
in the MIAA opener for both teams.
MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin suffered its second consecutive defeat, falling 1-0 at Millikin
University Saturday afternoon in Decatur, Illinois. Calvin (0-2)
outshot the host Big Blue 10-9 but could not dent the net as the Knights
were unable to finish a number of good scoring chances. Millikin's Jon
Owen scored the only goal of the game as he tallied in the 33rd minute.
Junior Matt Thelen (Grand Haven) came up with several spectacular saves
for Calvin in defeat as he took the loss in net.
Calvin will seek its first victory of the season Tuesday night when it
journeys to nationally-ranked Wheaton of Illinois for an 8:00 pm (EST)
game under the lights at Wheaton's East McCully Field. Ranked third
nationally, Wheaton holds a 32-2-5 lifetime record against Calvin with
Calvin's only two victories over Wheaton coming in 1987 and 1992.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin suffered its first defeat of the year, falling 6-0 to
nationally-ranked Ohio Wesleyan Saturday afternoon at Calvin Field.
Ranked ninth nationally, the visiting Battling Bishops (2-0) led 2-0 at
halftime and added four second half goals to close out the scoring.
Ohio Wesleyan All-American junior forward Katy Sturtz scored four goals
in the match including two in the first 10 minutes of the second half to
put the contest out of reach.
Ohio Wesleyan held a 30-15 shots at goal advantage while Calvin
sophomores Leah VanderPloeg (Unity Christian) and Christina Recker
(Grand Rapids Christian) split time in nets with VanderPloeg picking up
a career-high 17 saves while Recker had one save.
Calvin is back in action on Friday when it hosts nationally-ranked
Wheaton (IL) at 2:00 pm.
-end-
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Sun Sep 03 2000 - 22:17:00 EDT