From: Jeff Febus (jfebus@calvin.edu)
Date: Mon Nov 10 2003 - 20:43:54 EST
CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2003
VOLLEYBALL
The All-MIAA volleyball teams have been selected and three Calvin players have
received all-conference honors.
Named to the All-MIAA first team from Calvin are senior Trisha Balkema and
junior Kara Kuipers while freshman Kristen Kalb has been named to the All-MIAA
second team. In addition, Balkema has been named MIAA Co-Defensive Player of
the Year with Adrian sophomore Katie Eingher while Kalb has been named the
MIAA's inaugural Freshman of the Year.
Balkema is from Highland, Indiana and is a graduate of Illiana Christian High
School. She is making her first appearance on the All-MIAA first team while
receiving MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second straight
season. A two-year starter at the libero position in the backrow, Balkema
finished second in the MIAA in digs-per-game this year with an average of 5.40.
During the year, she was named MIAA Specialty Player of the Week twice. Over
the course of the season, she shattered her own Calvin single-season record
with 664 digs.
Kuipers is from Hudsonville and is a graduate of Unity Christian High School.
A 6-1 middle-hitter, Kuipers is also making her first appearance on the
All-MIAA first team. This fall, Kuipers was a two-time MIAA Player of the Week
while also landing spots on all-tournament teams hosted by Kalamazoo, Elmhurst
and Calvin. In conference play, she led the MIAA in blocks-per-game average
(1.54), was second in service aces per-game (0.52), was fourth in
kills-per-game (4.10) and was sixth in hitting percentage (.296).
Kalb is from Stow, Ohio. She is also a graduate of Munroe Falls High School.
A 5-9 outside hitter, Kalb finished seventh in the in kills-per-game (3.69) and
ninth in service aces per-game (0.44). She was also named MIAA Player of the
Week once.
Finally, sophomores Christine Hendricks and Jill Scholten received honorable
mention recognition from the MIAA coaches. Hendricks is from Cincinnati, Ohio
and is a graduate of Turpin High School. A 5-11 middle-hitter, Hendricks
finished fifth in the MIAA in hitting percentage (.306) and third in service
aces per-game (0.50). Scholten is from Zeeland and is a graduate of Holland
Christian High School. A 5-9 setter, Scholten led the MIAA in assists-per-game
average (12.92).
Calvin finished the year with a 28-8 overall record and in second place in the
MIAA with a 12-2 conference mark. Calvin's season came to a close this past
Saturday with a four-game loss to Alma in the MIAA Tournament Championship
final, marking Calvin's fourth appearance in the MIAA Tournament finals in the
last five years.
MEN'S SOCCER
For the first time in his career, Calvin College sophomore John VanWylen has
been named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week. VanWylen shares the honor for
the final week of the season with Hope freshman Patrick McMahon. VanWylen is
from Grand Rapids and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. He
played a key role last week in conference games against Hope and Alma as the
Knights gained a share of the final MIAA title.
The MIAA championship was the 16th in Calvin men's soccer history -- more than
any other MIAA member school. It also marked the first league crown for the
Knights since 1999. Calvin gained a share of the final league title with a 2-0
win over Alma Saturday while Hope battled Albion to a 1-1 double-overtime tie.
Both teams finished with 20 points overall (Calvin 10-2-0 and Hope 9-1-2).
Hope gained the MIAA's automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament this week due
to a tie-breaker edge. Calvin did not gain an at-large bid. Earlier this
fall, Calvin gained its first national ranking since 1991 as the Knights were
ranked 16th in the NSCAA Division III Top-25 poll October 27 and then climbed
to the No. 15 spot a week ago -- Calvin's highest-ever national ranking.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
For the second time this year, Calvin freshman forward Sarah Weesies has been
named MIAA Offensive Player of the Week. A native of Kalamazoo and a graduate
of Kalamazoo Christian High School, Weesies shares the award this week with St.
Mary's freshman forward Colleen Courtney.
This past week, Weesies collected four goals and two assists as the Knights
defeated Adrian 8-0 and tied St. Mary's 4-4. Her scoring performance in the
two games allowed Weesies to capture the MIAA individual scoring title as she
finished with 45 points in conference play on the strength of 16 goals and 13
assists. Her point total is the eighth-best and her assist total the
fourth-best single-season total in MIAA women's soccer history. Weesies is the
third individual in Calvin women's soccer history to capture the MIAA scoring
crown as Tara Dyk accomplished the feat in 1995 and 1997 while younger sister
Tricia Dyk did the same in 2001 and 2002.
Calvin finished 12-5-2 overall and in second place in the final MIAA standings
with a 10-2-2 conference mark.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
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