November 7, 2000
Volkers repeats as MIAA MVP in women's volleyball
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Calvin College senior Rhonda Volkers has been named
the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in women's volleyball for the second
straight year. In addition, Volkers has been named to the All-MIAA
first team for a third straight year. Volkers is one of four Calvin
players to earn All-MIAA honors as junior Sara Ahrenholz was named to
the All-MIAA first team and senior Ann Wiersma and sophomore Melissa
Pell named to the All-MIAA second team.
Volkers hails from Zeeland and is a graduate of Holland Christian High
School. She is the third Calvin fall sports athlete to receive MIAA MVP
accolades as seniors Dan Hoekstra and Sarah Gritter were named MIAA
MVP's in men's and women's cross country earlier this fall. A four-year
starter at middle-hitter, Volkers established Calvin single-season
records this fall for kills and kills-per-game average as she racked up
513 kills for an average of 4.10 kills-per-game. She also compiled an
impressive hitting percentage of .305 this year while averaging 2.15
digs-per-game, 1.06 blocks-per-game and 0.50 service-aces-per-game. She
also led Calvin in service aces (67) and total blocks (133) and was
named MIAA Player of the Week three times.
A setter, Ahrenholz is making her second straight appearance on the
All-MIAA first team. A native of Prinsburg, Minnesota and a graduate of
Central Minnesota Christian High School, Ahrenholz averaged 11.96
assists-per-game this year as she ranked among the nation's leaders in
assists-per-game average throughout the fall. She also finished second
on the team in service aces with 59 aces and was fourth in digs with
244.
Wiersma is from Vista, California and is a graduate of Escondido Calvin
Christian High School. Wiersma is making her third straight appearance
on the All-MIAA second team. An outside hitter, Wiersma finished second
on the Calvin squad in kills with 446 for an average of 3.57
kills-per-game. She also led Calvin in digs with 301 for an average of
2.41 digs-per-game while also recording 27 service aces and 65 blocks on
the year. Pell is from Fremont and a graduate of Fremont High School.
A middle-hitter, Pell recorded a team-leading .357 hitting percentage
this fall, averaging 2.56 kills-per-game. She also finished second on
the team in total blocks (131) for an average of 1.05 blocks-per-game.
Senior defensive specialist Alicia DeGroot also received honorable
mention recognition from the MIAA coaches for the third straight year.
DeGroot finished third on the team in service aces (54) and fifth in
digs (243).
Calvin finished the year with a 27-8 overall record and a second place
finish in the MIAA regular season standings with a 12-2 conference mark.
The Knights concluded their season last Saturday night with a 15-9,
17-15, 14-16, 16-14 loss to Hope in the MIAA Tournament championship
final. Calvin reached the MIAA Tournament championship final with a
13-15, 15-3, 15-11, 15-2 semifinal victory over Alma. In the semifinal
win over Alma, the Knights racked up a Calvin single-match record 20
service aces with Volkers collecting six aces and Ahrenholz five aces.
-end-
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