From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Wed Sep 17 2003 - 23:21:07 EDT
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2003
VOLLEYBALL
A thrilling five-game victory over a determined squad from Kalamazoo allowed
the Knights to remain unbeaten and stay on top of the MIAA standings Wednesday
night. Playing Kalamazoo for the second time this season and for the first
time in conference play, Calvin prevailed in front of a boisterous crowd 30-28,
19-30, 30-24, 31-33, 15-12.
With the win, Calvin upped its season record to 8-0 and its MIAA mark to 4-0,
one victory ahead of second place Hope (3-1 MIAA).
Calvin jumped out to a big lead in game one but was forced to hold on at the
end for the 30-28 win. Using the late first game momentum, Kalamazoo rolled
through game two behind an aggressive serving attack, leading 25-15 and then
outscoring the Knights 5-4 down the stretch.
Calvin reversed the tide in game three, moving out to an 18-12 lead and then
building a 29-22 advantage. Kalamazoo refused to fold, scoring the next four
points to close to with three but would get no closer.
In game four, it appeared that Calvin would close out the match as the Knights
were able to build a 25-19 lead. Kalamazoo (8-4 overall, 1-2 MIAA) then staged
a huge comeback, outscoring Calvin 10-2 to take a 29-27 lead. Calvin senior
setter Deb Frieswyk (Holland Christian HS) was then inserted into the match for
the first time and delivered with three clutch service points to allow the
Knights to take a 30-29 lead. Kalamazoo answered with two straight points to
take a 31-30 lead. Calvin would tie the game at 31 all but was unable to
prevent Kalamazoo from scoring the final two points, forcing a pivotal game
five.
In game five, Calvin jumped out to an 8-5 advantage and after seeing the
Hornets tie the game at eight, respoinded by scoring the next three points to
lead 11-8. Kalamazoo then cut the deficit to a point at 11-10 but three
straight Calvin points gave the Knights a 14-10 lead and a chance to serve for
the match. Kalamazoo again refused to quit, scoring two straight points,
forcing Calvin to call timeout. After the Calvin timeout, Kalamazoo committed
a service error, giving the final point and the match to the Knights.
"We feel very fortunate to have won," said Calvin volleyball coach Amber
Warners. "Kalamazoo gave us everything we could handle but I also have to
credit my players for hanging tough after they forced us into a fifth game.
"We're still not playing as well together as I would like and I think that led
to a lot of unforced errors," continued Warners. "We have a lot players
stepping into new roles this year. Once we start connecting on a more
consistent basis, we could really be fun to watch."
Calvin was led by junior middle-hitter Kara Kuipers (Unity Christian HS) who
racked up match-high 23 kills along with seven blocks and seven digs. Five of
her blocks were of the solo variety. Sophomore middle-hitter Christine
Hendricks (Cincinnati, OH) was also superb with 18 kills, seven digs, four
blocks and a hitting percentage of .340. Sophomore setter Jill Scholten
(Holland Christian HS) amassed a career-high 69 assists and 18 digs. Senior
libero Trisha Balkema (Highland, IN) was stellar for the Knights in the back
row with 28 digs with sophomore Katie Schultz (Escondido, CA) contributing 19
digs and nine kills. Freshman Kristen Kalb (Stow, OH) added 14 kills and 16
digs while junior Kristin DeGroot (Tulare, CA) had 26 digs and eight kills.
Kalamazoo was led by middle-hitters Anny Price and Megan Erskine who tallied
17 kills apiece. Freshman setter Kelsey Cross tossed out 57 assists. Price
also came up with a match-high 12 blocks including eight solos.
Both teams will now prepare to compete at the Elmhurst Invitational this
weekend. The tournament will include national power Central College of Iowa.
MIAA VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 9-17-03
Calvin 4-0
Hope 3-1
Adrian 2-1
Alma 1-1
Kalamazoo 1-2
St. Mary's 1-3
Albion 1-3
Olivet 0-2
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin used a helping of home cooking to post its first victory of the year as
the Knights delivered an 8-0 non-conference win over future MIAA member
Tri-State Wednesday afternoon at Calvin Field. Playing in its home opener,
Calvin (1-3-1) took control from the opening minute as freshman Sarah Weesies
(Kalamazoo Christian HS) scored just 39 seconds into the game on an assist from
senior Dana Haan (Lynden, WA). Weesies would score her second goal of the game
and third of the season just five minutes later. Freshman Jill Capel (Unity
Christian HS) then scored her second goal of the year late in the first half as
she stole a back-pass and beat the Tri-State goaltender with a quick shot. The
Capel goal enabled the Knights to a 3-0 halftime lead.
Calvin kept up the pressure in the second half with Capel scoring her second
goal of the game and Haan scoring two of her own. Freshmen Jennifer Evans
(Derry, PA) added her first goal of her collegiate career in the second half
surge with freshman Leah Scholten (Unity Christian HS) scoring her first
collegiate goal as well.
Sophomore Kara Zuidema (Escondido, CA) finished the afternoon with two assists
while freshman Laura Rooks (Holland Christian HS) and Jennifer Holtrop
(Derwood, MD) also collected assists in the second half.
Calvin held a 38-1 shots at goal advantage with Tri-State's only shot of the
game coming in the closing seconds of regulation.
Calvin also finished with 10 corner kicks on the afternoon. Freshman
goaltender Megan VanderVliet (Oakville, ON) went the distance in nets for the
Knights to collect her first collegiate shutout.
Over the last two years, Calvin is now 10-0-1 in games played at Calvin Field
but just 3-9-2 in games played on the road.
Calvin must now prepare for another difficult road test as the Knights journey
to MIAA co-leader Alma College Saturday afternoon for a 2:00 p.m. contest.
The game will be broadcast via RealAudio on the Calvin web site at:
www.Calvin.edu/sports with Josh Miller handling the play-by-play duties.
MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 9-17-03
Alma 3-0
Hope 3-0
St. Mary's 1-0-1
Albion 1-1-0
Calvin 0-1-1
Adrian 0-2-0
Kalamazoo 0-2-0
Olivet 0-2-0
MEN'S GOLF
BATTLE CREEK - Calvin used a sparkling team effort to finish one stroke out of
first place at an MIAA outing hosted by Olivet at the Bedford Valley Country
Club Wednesday afternoon. Calvin finished with a team score of 310, one stroke
behind first place Hope on Wednesday and tied for second place with Olivet.
Wednesday's outing was the second in MIAA competition this year and allowed
the Knights to remain within 11 strokes of league-leading Hope and Olivet which
are now tied for first place in the overall team standings.
Junior Mike Bratt (Lynden, WA) led the way for the Maroon and Gold on
Wednesday with a season-best round of 76 that left him in a multiple tie for
third place individually. Senior Matt Kelly (Western Michigan Christian HS)
and junior Ricky Shilts (Kalamazoo Central HS) were next for the Knights with
rounds of 77 that left them tied for eighth place. Rounding out Calvin's
finishers were seniors Phil Rietema (Grand Rapids Baptist HS) and Ryan Brandsma
(Hinsdale, IL) with rounds of 80 that left them tied for 12th place
individually.
Olivet's Dan Wiers was Wednesday's medalist with a round of 74.
Kelly and Bratt are now tied for fifth place in the MIAA individual standings
overall while Rietema is 10th individually.
Calvin will now prepare for the third MIAA outing of the year. The outing
will be hosted by Alma Saturday at the Pine River Country Club with the opening
tee-times set for 1:00 p.m.
MIAA OUTING #2 TEAM SCORES
Hope 309
Calvin 310
Olivet 310
Albion 323
Alma 324
Adrian 333
Kalamazoo 342
OVERALL TEAM STANDINGS THROUGH TWO ROUNDS
Hope 614
Olivet 614
Calvin 625
Albion 634
Alma 637
Adrian 676
Kalamazoo 688
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
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