CSR (Volleyball Team Sweeps Nebraska Wesleyan in NCAA III Tournament 1st Round)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 11, 2004

VOLLEYBALL

PELLA, IA - A quick start propelled the Calvin women's volleyball team to
its first NCAA III Tournament victory since 1997 as the Knights swept Nebraska
Wesleyan 30-19, 30-25, 30-22 in a first round match Thursday night at Central
College, host of NCAA III Central Regional.

Calvin advances to a second round NCAA III Tournament match Friday night at
5:30 p.m. against sixth-ranked Washington University of Missouri (28-6).

Heading into Thursday's action, Calvin had dropped its last three matches in
NCAA III Tournament play, falling in the first round in 1998, 1999 and in 2001.
 

But Thursday night would prove to be a different story as the Knights (28-8)
rolled out to a 9-0 lead in game one against Nebraska Wesleyan and continued on
for an easy game one win. In game two, Calvin broke open a two-point game with
a four-point run to build a 19-14 edge. The Prairie Wolves would get no closer
than four points the rest of the way. In game three, Calvin used a six-point
run to take command at 27-18 and then traded points with Nebraska Wesleyan to
close out the match.

"This was a great way to open the tournament," said Calvin women's
volleyball coach Amber Warners who is now 103-34 in her collegiate coaching
career for a winning percentage of .752. "The thing that impressed me most
about tonight is that we did not show any signs of nervousness. We played
relaxed and without any pressure on our shoulders. We'll have to play very
well tomorrow night to have a chance at a victory but I think we are also
peaking at the right time."

Calvin was led in Thursday's match by sophomore Kristen Kalb (Stow, OH) who
collected a match-high 13 kills along with nine digs and an attack percentage
of .345.

Calvin's middle-hitter attack of senior Kara Kuipers (Unity Christian HS)
and junior Christine Hendricks (Cincinnati, OH) was also strong with both
players collecting 12 kills apiece with Kuipers compiling an attack percentage
of .480 and Hendricks a percentage of .409. Kuipers also racked up six block
assists and one block solo.

Freshman setter Katie Zondervan (Lakewood, CA) also sparkled in her NCAA III
Tournament debut with 41 assists along with eight digs and three service aces.
Junior Katie Schultz (Escondido, CA) chipped in with 12 digs and five kills
while junior Megan VanDommelen (Shebogyan, WI) had a big night up at the net
with six block assists and one block solo.

Senior libero Kristin DeGroot (Tulare, CA) was also superb in patrolling the
back row, collecting a match-high 24 digs along with a pair of service aces.
Calvin and Washington U. will be meeting for the third time in NCAA III
Tournament play with the Bears winning both prior meetings, winning in three
games in 1990 and in four games in 1992. The 1992 match between Calvin and
Washington University was a national semifinal match in St. Louis with the
Bears continuing on to win the national title that year.

With Thursday's victory, Calvin is now 14-15 in NCAA III Tournament play.
Calvin is making its 14th appearance in the NCAA III Tournament.

Friday's match between Calvin and Washington University will be broadcast
via RealAudio through the Calvin web site at: www.Calvin.edu/sports

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Nov 11 20:15:48 2004