From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Fri Sep 19 2003 - 22:32:13 EDT
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2003
VOLLEYBALL
ELMHURST, IL * Calvin's blazing start to the 2003 season just got a little hotter. On the opening day of competition at the Elmhurst Invitational, the Knights claimed a pair of victories including a three-game sweep over nationally-ranked and three-time national champion Central College of Iowa.
Now 10-0 on the year, Calvin opened the tournament with a 30-22, 30-19, 30-19 victory over Augsburg College of Minnesota Friday afternoon. The Knights then topped Central, ranked ninth in the latest AVCA Division III Top-25 poll, 32-30, 30-25, 32-30 in a match this evening.
"Obviously this is a great way to start the tournament," said Calvin volleyball coach Amber Warners. "In our win over Central, defense was a huge key. The challenge for us now is to keep our focus tomorrow. Our goal is to win the tournament."
In the win over Central, Calvin received sterling effort from senior libero Trisha Balkema (Highland, IN) and junior Kristin DeGroot (Tulare, CA) as Balkema collected 30 digs and DeGroot 29 digs. Sophomore Katie Schultz (Escondido, CA) also had 14 digs while junior Kara Kuipers (Unity Christian HS) and sophomores Megan VanDommelen (Sheboygan, WI) and Christine Hendricks (Turpin, OH) had five blocks apiece.
On offense, freshman Kristen Kalb (Stow, OH) led the way with 13 kills while Kuipers had 12. Sophomore setter Jill Scholten (Holland Christian) was also credited with 37 assists.
Against Augsburg, Calvin was paced by Kuipers who tallied 13 kills and four blocks with Balkema and DeGroot chalking up nine digs apiece.
Calvin returns to play tomorrow in the championship pool.
MEN'S SOCCER
OSHKOSH, WI * A spirited effort was not enough to overcome the 13th-ranked Titans of Wisconsin-Oshkosh as the Knights were defeated 2-0 Friday afternoon in the first round of the Valley Cup Invitational.
Through the first 65 minutes, Calvin battled the Titans on even terms and even held a shots-at-goal advantage in the first half. Wisconsin-Oshkosh scored the first goal of the game however as senior Derek Kasten ripped in a shot from 20 yards out in the 66th minute on a restart. Kasten then scored the clinching goal, capitalizing on a Calvin defense miscue and firing in a shot on a clean breakaway in the 85th minute.
Wisconsin-Oshkosh finished with a 10-7 shots-at-goal advantage. Calvin sophomore goaltender Joe Westra (Grand Rapids Christian HS) collected three saves in defeat.
The loss was Calvin's second straight shutout defeat as the Knights were blanked by Wheaton (IL) Tuesday night.
Calvin (3-2-0) returns to action on Saturday at the Valley Cup Invitational when it faces Wisconsin-Whitewater at 1:00 p.m. In Friday's other first round game, Hope defeated Whitewater 2-1. Hope is scheduled to face Wisconsin-Oshkosh later Saturday afternoon in a rematch of a 2002 second round NCAA III Tournament game.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
The Calvin women's soccer game at Alma on Saturday (Sept 20) will begin at noon. The original schedule has listed a start time of 2:00 p.m.
Calvin sports information student assistant Josh Miller will carry a RealAudio broadcast of the Calvin-Alma match beginning at 11:55 a.m.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Sep 19 2003 - 22:32:51 EDT