CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2004
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
NOTRE DAME, IN * In the first meeting of the year between two top-ranked teams, the Calvin men's cross country came out on top.
Ranked number one in the latest NCAA Division III poll, the Calvin men's cross country team took third in the Gold Division of the prestigious Notre Dame Invitational Friday afternoon with 96 points, finishing 37 points ahead of second-ranked (NCAA III) North Central College of Illinois. Host Notre Dame, ranked 30th in the latest NCAA Division I poll, took first place with 85 points with the University of Windsor second with 93 points.
Calvin also finished more than 125 points ahead of fourth-ranked (NCAA III) Wisconsin-Stevens Point as the Pointers took eighth with 225 points.
Although early in the season, Friday's race was an important confidence booster for a Calvin men's cross country team looking to defend its 2003 national title.
The Knights placed two runners in the top 10 in Friday's race including four in the top 20. Seniors David Haagsma (South Christian HS) and Hendrik Kok (Lynden, WA) led the Calvin charge as Haagsma was eighth (25:05) and Kok ninth (25:05). North Central's top finisher was Patrick Rizzo who placed fifth in 24:54. Calvin placed four runners inside North Central's third man to gain enough separation from the Cardinals in the team standings.
Calvin's third finisher was senior Andy Yazzie (Rehoboth, NM) in 16th place (25:12) with senior Jeff Engbers (Whitinsville, MA) close behind in 19th (25:15). Sophomore Tim Finnegan (Los Alamos, NM) served as Calvin's fifth man on Friday, placing 44th in 25:43.
Rounding out the finishers for the Knights were junior Harrison Jorritsma (Beamsville, ON) in 48th (25:46); sophomore Ben Hammer (Williamsburg) in 60th (25:57); freshman Dan MacKay (Whitinsville, MA) in 78th (26:13) and freshman Josiah Leubenberger (West Middlesex, PA) in 92nd (26:25).
In the women's Gold Division, Calvin took 18th in a 19-team field with 417 points.
Calvin's top finishers were junior Lindsay Kroonenberg (Denver, CO) and sophomore Lydia Singer (Wilmington, DE) as Kroonenberg took 67th (19:28) and Singer 70th (19:31). Just 35 seconds separated Calvin's top five finishers as sophomore Laura Holtrop (Derwood, MD) was 90th (19:45); sophomore Bethany Hofman (Holland Christian HS) 96th (19:49) and freshman Jenny Zylstra (Lombard, IL) 110th (20:03).
Rounding out Calvin's finishers were sophomore Melissa Vanden Berge (Grand Rapids Christian HS) in 129th (20:36) and freshman Christina Overbeck (Seattle, WA) in 133rd (20:46).
In the men's open race, senior Aaron Iverson (Radnor, OH) was 18th (26:36); sophomore Paul Rollett (Chatham, IL) 20th (26:36); senior Kyle Carrick (Tokyo, Japan) 25th (26:41)
In the women's open race, Calvin senior Rachel Reed (Oak Park, IL) was 40th (21:43); Senior Nicole Landers (Wooster, OH) 41st (23:10) and junior Tracy Dykstra (Unity Christian HS) 43rd (24:15).
Both Calvin teams return to action next Friday when they compete at the Michigan Intercollegiates hosted by Grand Valley State at the Rolling Hills Golf Course.
VOLLEYBALL
HOLLAND * A come-from-behind effort allowed Calvin to hold off an upset-minded Hope College team Friday night in front of a large crowd at Hope's Dow Center as the Knights prevailed 24-30, 30-15, 30-25, 30-26.
The victory allows the Knights (13-5 overall, 8-1 MIAA) to remain close to league-leading Alma (7-0) as the second half of the league's regular season gets underway.
Hope jumped out to a big lead in game one and held off a late Calvin comeback bid. Calvin quickly turned the momentum in its favor with a strong performance in game two and then had enough to pull out wins in games three and four.
Senior Kara Kuipers (Unity Christian HS) led Calvin with 16 kills and nine blocks with junior Christine Hendricks (Cincinnati, OH) contributing 12 kills and five blocks. Sophomore Kristen Kalb (Stow, OH) had seven kills and 15 digs while senior libero Kristin DeGroot (Tulare, CA) had 21 digs. In addition, freshman setter Katie Zondervan (Lakewood, CA) amassed 57 assists.
The Knights finished with just a .211 hitting percentage as Hope collected 114 digs in the match.
Calvin returns to action next Friday when it hosts St. Mary's in a match scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
MIAA VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS THROUGH 10-1-04
Alma 7-0
Calvin 8-1
Kalamazoo 6-2
Adrian 4-4
Albion 4-4
St. Mary's 3-5
Hope 3-6
Olivet 0-7
Tri-State 0-6
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Oct 1 23:00:50 2004
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