CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Warners Named Great Lakes Regional Volleyball Coach of the Year;
Men's Soccer Players Receive Post-Season Honors from MIAA
VOLLEYBALL
Calvin head volleyball coach Amber Warners has been named the Tachikara/AVCA Division III Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year.
In just her fifth season at the helm of the Calvin women’s volleyball program, Warners has led the Knights to a 32-1 record heading into their third consecutive NCAA Division III Tournament. Following an undefeated Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) regular season (16-0), Calvin won the conference tournament and the NCAA automatic bid.
The Knights are ranked No. 11 in the latest CSTV/AVCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll, the highest ranking for the school since 1995. In addition, Calvin has posted its second consecutive 30-win season, including three wins against other teams currently in the CSTV/AVCA Top 25. The Knights begin NCAA Tournament play this weekend currently working on a 23-match win streak. 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.
This is the first time she has been named the Tachikara/AVCA Division III Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year. Warners has also earned Regional Coach of the Year honors in softball * doing so in 1997.
MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin College senior Maurice Wright has been named to the All-MIAA first team in men’s soccer.
A native of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Wright is making his first appearance on the All-MIAA first team. A graduate of Wauwatosa East High School, Wright served as a tri-captain on a Calvin men’s soccer team that finished 10-5-5 this season including 8-2-4 in the MIAA which was good for a third place league finish. Playing primarily at a stopper-back position on defense, Wright also scored three goals and collected two assists for a total of eight points. He was also named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week once.
Wright also helped Calvin record five shutouts in its final eight games. His defensive presence also helped the Knights finish 7-0-2 over their final nine games.
In addition, Calvin freshmen Alex McKenzie and Greg Snapper have both been selected to the All-MIAA second team. A forward, McKenzie is from Lindenhurst, Illinois. He is a graduate of Antioch High School. During the year, McKenzie collected 13 points on the strength of five goals and three assists. Snapper, meanwhile, sparkled on defense for the Knights. A freshman from Madison, Wisconsin, and a graduate of Madison West High School, Snapper was a full-time starter at the sweeper back position this fall. He was also named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week once.
Also receiving honorable mention recognition from the MIAA coaches were senior forward David Holwerda (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS), junior midfielder Jared Litty (Hudsonville/Hudsonville HS) and senior defensive back Nathan Kooi (Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian HS).
Finally, David Holwerda has been named the recipient of the MIAA’s Zuidema Award. The Zuidema Award has been awarded since 1999 and honors Dr. Marvin Zuidema, longtime men's soccer coach and athletic administrator at Calvin College. The recipient is to be a senior selected for his contributions to team play, leadership qualities, demonstration of ethical virtues and excellence in athletics and academics.
Along with Maurice Wright and Nathan Kooi, Holwerda served as a team tri-captain this fall. He finished his career with 19 goals and six assists including six goals and two assists this fall. Perhaps his most notable achievement however was his ability to come back from hodgkin’s disease during his sophomore year of 2004. Holwerda was diagnosed with the condition in the late fall of 2003 and missed the spring semester of the 2003-04 academic year while undergoing treatment. In the fall of 2004, Holwerda returned to school and to the Calvin men’s soccer team, scoring eight goals including three game-winners. Holwerda has also been a solid student at Calvin, majoring in sociology and business administration.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Nov 8 15:11:12 2006
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