CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2007 (Part Two)
Volleyball Wraps Up MIAA Title;
Women's Soccer Advances to MIAA Tournament Semis;
Men's Soccer Tops Albion - Remains on Top of MIAA Standings
VOLLEYBALL
(Written by Annalise Venhuizen '08)
Calvin 3, Albion 0 (30-21, 30-12, 30-7)
Calvin 3, Anderson 0 (30-16, 30-18, 30-17)
GRAND RAPIDS -- Each of the co-hosts of this weekend's Midwest Challenge went
undefeated in four matches. Calvin followed up two Friday evening wins over
Kalamazoo and Hanover with two Saturday victories over Albion and Anderson
University, and Hope defended itself at home, defeating the same four opponents
on opposite days as the teams shared a co-championship of the weekend
tournament. The weekend included two conference matches for each team. With
its wins over conference opponents Kalamazoo and Albion, Calvin (26-4, 15-1
MIAA) wrapped up its second consecutive MIAA regular season title, finishing
one win ahead of Hope (14-2 MIAA). The MIAA title is Calvin’s 16th overall -
more than any other MIAA school. Calvin also gains the top seed for next
week’s MIAA Tournament with the Knights set to host a first round game
Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. against the winner of a Monday night play-in match between
(#8) Alma and (#9) Olivet.
After a 30-21 win in game one against Albion, Calvin allowed only 19 points in
games two (30-12) and three (30-7) combined to take the match. Freshman Kim
Wigboldy (Chandler, AZ/Chandler Valley Christian) played a large part in a
Calvin 15-2 run that began game two, nailing four kills and having a hand in a
block. In game three, Calvin strung together three lengthy scoring runs and
put the game away within one rotation. The first eight points were Calvin's
with sophomore Kelsey Sears (Traverse City/Traverse City West) serving and with
the front row putting up two huge blocks. Calvin then took points 12 through
17, holding Albion at five as sophomore Sara Kramer (Dyer, IN/Illiana
Christian) and senior Kristen Kalb (Stow, OH/Stow-Munroe Falls) had a combined
four kills. After allowing a point, Calvin had 10 uncontested points as senior
Sarah Ernst (Fort Wayne, IN/Concordia Lutheran) served. Ernst had a great dig
and a service ace as Calvin played outstanding defense and won the game and
match in commanding fashion, 30-21, 30-12, 30-7.
Senior Molly Krikke (Greenwich, OH/South Central) led the Calvin offense with
14 kills. Kalb had 10 kills and 10 digs, and Wigboldy contributed 7 kills.
Junior libero Lauren DeGroot (Tulare, CA/Central Valley Christian) had 20 digs
to lead the defense, and senior setter Katie Zondervan (Lakewood, CA/Valley
Christian) gave out 32 assists and had 9 digs of her own. Junior Jessica
Garlick (Portage/Kalamazoo Christian) also had three assists in the game.
"Jessica is a good blocker and a good hitter," head coach Amber Warners said.
"But what's really awesome is that she has experience as a setter. She can
transition to set up a quick tempo attack. It's rare to have a right side
hitter who is able to run those attacks, and it throws the defense off every
time."
In match two against Anderson, Calvin's consistency was reflected in the
scoring as well as in the play-by-play. Calvin established a 10-point 21-11
lead after a great dig by DeGroot allowed Zondervan to set Kalb up for a huge
kill, her fourth in five Calvin points. In game two, Calvin took a narrow
20-15 lead and extended it to 29-17 with a string of solid defensive play
including a DeGroot dig that turned into a kill from Garlick and two blocks.
The consistent play continued into game three as Calvin put up multiple blocks,
had minimal unforced errors, and had 14 kills. The Knights took the match
30-16, 30-18, 30-17.
Krikke again led Calvin in kills with 17 while Kalb had 15 and Kramer added 8.
DeGroot amassed 13 digs and sophomore Katie Corbett (St.
Joseph/Stevensville-Lakeshore) added 11. Zondervan, who is ranked second
nationally in assists-per-game, had 44 assists.
Warners was pleased and encouraged by Calvin's efforts today. "I thought we
did a really great job playing with consistency and passion all day long. When
we bring that intensity and passion we play so well. It's an ingredient that
I'm happy to see the team bring back," Warners said. The defense that showed
itself in Friday night's game against Hanover was the driving force this
afternoon as well. "What I loved about this weekend is the extra effort that
we put in when we would normally let the ball go. We went after everything and
saw what could happen if we get up, reach, and get our blocks and digs,"
Warners said.
Calvin now heads into a week of MIAA Tournament play, with first round games
to be played on Tuesday, October 30, and Tournament Finals scheduled for Friday
and Saturday, November 2 and 3.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
(written by Colin McWhertor ’08)
Calvin 3, Olivet 1
GRAND RAPIDS -- The Calvin women’s soccer team defeated a familiar opponent
in the first round of the MIAA Tournament Saturday. Calvin downed Olivet 3-1
Saturday afternoon at Zuidema Field to advance to the semi-finals against Hope
College on Tuesday afternoon. The victory was Calvin’s second over Olivet in
as many weeks, having defeated the Comets 2-0 in the Knights final regular
season home game last week.
This victory over Olivet came much easier than the previous one in which
Calvin was only able to break a scoreless tie in the final 15 minutes. The
Knights were able to jump to a lead in the first half on the strength of two
goals. In the 28th minute, freshman Carly Prins (Unity Christian) headed in a
corner kick from junior Ashley Bolen (Urbana, IL) to give the Knights the 1-0
lead. The goal was Prins’ team-leading 10th of the season, giving her 23
points on the year.
Calvin added on later in the first half when sophomore Natalie Veurink
(Western Michigan Christian) deposited a centering pass from freshman Elaine
Schnabel (Chesterton, IN) into the back of the net in the 40th minute. The
goal was Veurink’s sixth of the season and gave Calvin a halftime lead of 2-0
that Olivet could not come back from.
Calvin added an insurance goal late in the second half when junior Jessica
Vegter (Unity Christian) scored off of a rebound for her first of the year with
less than two minutes remaining. Olivet scored in the final minute when Katie
Koralewski pounded one into the net from the box. The Olivet goal ended a long
shut-out streak that Calvin had dating back the five previous games.
Alyssa Bergsma (Calvin Christian) and Kayla Sulzer (St. Charles, MO) again
split the time in goal for the Knights, with Bergsma playing the first half and
Sulzer the second. Bergsma did not face a shot in first half and Sulzer
allowed the one goal in the second.
Other MIAA 1st round games Saturday:
Kalamazoo 3, Adrian 1
Albion 2, Alma 0
Hope 1, Saint Mary's 0
MIAA Tournament Semi-finals on Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 3:30pm
Hope at Calvin
Albion at Kalamazoo
MEN’S SOCCER
Calvin 5, Albion 3
(written by Bruce VanBaren ’09)
GRAND RAPIDS -- Calvin’s league best offense was perfect at home this
afternoon, scoring on all five of its shots on goal as the Knights defeated
fourth place Albion 5-3. Calvin’s eleventh straight victory is its tenth
league win and extends its lead to seven points over second place Kalamazoo who
faces Adrian tonight.
“The kids are getting some wonderful things done and I’m very proud of
what we are doing,” Coach Chris Hughes said. “To put five goals in the
back of Albion’s net says a lot because Albion is a great team.”
In fact Albion was second in the league defensively having allowed only seven
goals all season. Not only did Calvin’s offense nearly match that total
today, the Knights did it with a perfect five for five shots on goal
percentage.
“We’re not going for the amount of shots, we’re going for the quality of
shots,” Hughes said. “Our guys are just picking and choosing and obviously
five for five is productive.”
Calvin’s most productive player today was freshman Scott Hooker
(Hudsonville/ Unity Christian) whose two goals and one assist led the Knights.
The goals were Hooker’s seventh and eight of the season. For the second
straight game, senior Nick Capisciolto was also huge for Calvin picking up his
co-leading eight goal of the season along with a pair of assists.
Calvin also survived a make shift defensive line as the Knights were without
sophomore Greg Snapper (Madison, WI/ Madison West) and freshman Luke Wilgenburg
(Visalisa, CA/ Central Valley Christian).
“No matter who I put where, these kids are getting the job done,” Hughes
said. “I trust them, I’m not concerned about what year they are here;
they’re getting the job done. We asked a lot of Jeff Grater (Stow, OH/ Stow-
Munroe Falls) today and he performed.” Grater played sweeper for the injured
Snapper.
Despite the win Calvin allowed a season high three goals in a conference game.
The Knights had led the league in goals against with only five against.
“Fewer balls went in our net verses how many went into our opponent’s net.
I see that as a success,” Hughes said. “We had three freshmen and one
sophomore going against what I think is one of the better teams in the MIAA.
Hat’s off to those young guys.”
Despite the 5-3 win, Calvin was actually outshot 16-12 and 8-5 in shots on
goal. Junior Darrin Cline (Grandville/ Grandville) and senior Dave Fortosis
(West Chicago, IL/ Wheaton Academy) combined for five saves. Cline allowed one
goal and Fortosis allowed two.
Senior Jared Litty (Hudsonville/ Hudsonville) opened up the scoring in the
10th minute with a beautiful shot far post from the left corner. Sophomore
Michael Holwerda (Grand Rapids/ Grand Rapids Christian) picked up the assist
setting Litty up with a perfect cross.
Hooker tallied his first goal ten minutes later with a shot deflected off of
the keeper. Capisciolto was credited with the assist. Albion’s Andy Low
scored the first of his two goals in the 31st minute to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Hooker responded with his second goal seven minutes later. After a beautiful
spin move he turned around and from a standstill dropped a shot into the upper
left corner to put the Knights ahead 3-1 at the half.
Capisciolto, who assisted Hooker’s first goal, had the favor returned when
Hooker found him on the right wing. Capisciolto rocketed a shot from a tough
angle on the right wing to put Calvin up 4-1 minutes into the second half. Low
again cut the deficit in half for Albion with his second goal of the game after
he sprung on a breakaway.
Capisciolto picked up his second assist with a perfect free kick off of the
head of sophomore Alex McKenzie (Lindenhurst, IL/ Antioch) for his first goal
of the season in the 72nd minute. Albion’s Jordan Matthews added the
Briton’s third goal in the 82nd minute on a breakaway.
With a five goal effort today, the Knights increased their conference goal
total to 37 and their season total to 44. Hooker, Capisciolto and Holwerda
co-lead the team each with eight goals on the season. The second best offense
in the MIAA is Hope who totals 19 conference goals.
Calvin has only two league game remaining. The Knights host Adrian on
Wednesday and close out the season at Tri-State on Saturday as they try to
capture their first MIAA Championship since 2004.
“Getting through this game [against Albion] was big for us,” Hughes said.
“But we have to take care of business with Adrian on Wednesday and at
Tri-State next Saturday. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but I’m hoping
we are up to the test.”
MIAA MEN’S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 10-27-07
Calvin 10-1-1
Kalamazoo 9-3-0
Hope 8-3-1
Albion 6-5-1
Olivet 4-8-0
Adrian 3-8-1
Alma 3-8-1
Tri-State 2-9-1
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Sat Oct 27 22:51:42 2007
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