CSR (Kristen Kalb Named MIAA MVP In Volleyball - Warners Named MIAA Coach of the Year)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2006

Kristen Kalb Named MIAA MVP In Women’s Volleyball * Warners Named MIAA Coach of the Year

GRAND RAPIDS - Five members of the MIAA champion Calvin women’s volleyball team have received All-MIAA honors.

Senior Kristen Kalb along with juniors Katie Zondervan and Molly Krikke have been named to the All-MIAA second team while senior Lorilyn Vogel and sophomore Lauren DeGroot have been named to the All-MIAA second team.

Calvin head coach Amber Warners has also been named MIAA Coach of the Year for the first time. Warners is a native of Holland and is a graduate of Holland Christian High School. She is also a 1990 graduate of Calvin. Now in her fifth year at the helm of the Calvin women’s volleyball program, Warners has led the Knights their second consecutive 30-win season and their first MIAA regular season title since 1999. In five years as Calvin’s head coach, Warners has produced a won-loss record of 144-34 for a winning percentage of .804. As a collegiate coach, Warners has compiled a won-loss record of 165-45 for a winning percentage of .785.

In addition, Kalb has been named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player. A native of Stow, Ohio, and a graduate of Munroe Falls High School, Kalb is the first player from Calvin to receive MIAA MVP honors since Rhonda Volkers was so honored in 2000. It also marks the 11th time that a Calvin player has received MIAA MVP accolades. Current Calvin head coach Amber (Blankespoor) Warners was a two-time MIAA MVP, receiving the award in 1988 and 1989.

An outside, hitter, Kalb led the MIAA in kills-per-game this fall (4.47) and was also ranked fifth in hitting percentage (.304) and seventh in service aces-per-game (0.49). Kalb is receiving All-MIAA first team honors for the first time in her career. Kalb was also named MIAA Player of the Week twice this fall.

A setter, Zondervan is receiving All-MIAA first team honors for the third consecutive year. A native of Lakewood, California, and a graduate of Valley Christian High School, Zonderan led the MIAA in assists-per-game this fall (13.88). Zondervan was a two-time MIAA Specialty Player of the Week this year.

Krikke is receiving All-MIAA first team honors for the first time in her career. Krikke is an outside hitter from Greenwich, Ohio. She is a graduate of South Central High School. A middle-hitter, Krikke led the MIAA in hitting percentage this year (.385) and was ranked third in the MIAA in kills-per-game (3.96) and fifth in blocks-per-game (1.02). During the year, Krikke was named MIAA Player of the Week three times.

An outside hitter, Vogel hails from Orange City, Iowa. She is a graduate of Unity (IA) Christian High School. During the 2006 MIAA season, Vogel finished seventh in the MIAA in both kills-per-game (3.44) and hitting percentage (.284).

A libero, DeGroot hails from Tulare, California. She is a graduate of Central Valley Christian High School. DeGroot finished fourth in the MIAA in digs-per-game (6.06) and third in service aces-per-game (0.55). DeGroot was named MIAA Specialty Player of the Week once during the year.

Also receiving honorable mention recognition from the MIAA coaches are senior Katy Luimes and freshman Kelsey Sears. Luimes is a middle hitter from Caledonia, Ontario. She is a graduate of Hamilton District Christian High School. A defensive specialist, Sears is from Traverse City and is a graduate of Traverse City West High School.

Calvin captured the MIAA regular season and MIAA Tournament titles this fall. The MIAA regular season title was Calvin’s first since 1999 while its tournament title was its third consecutive including its fifth in the last eight years.

Ranked 12th in the latest AVCA Division III Top-25 poll, Calvin (32-1) is preparing to host an eight-team NCAA III Regional tournament this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Knights will open NCAA III Tournament play on Thursday night when they meet Nazareth (NY) at 8:30 p.m.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue Nov 7 12:40:24 2006