CSR (Volleyball Holds Off Saint Mary's in MIAA Tourney/WSoccer Falls in Shootout in MIAA Tourney Semis)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 3, 2009

Volleyball Holds Off Upset Bid By Saint Mary’s in First Round of MIAA
Tournament;
Women's Soccer Falls In Shootout at MIAA Tournament Semifinal to Kalamazoo

VOLLEYBALL
Calvin 3, Saint Mary’s 1 (25-11, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23)
(Written by sports information student assistant Mitch Blankespoor)

GRAND RAPIDS - The 14th ranked Calvin volleyball team played host to Saint
Mary’s on Tuesday night in a first round MIAA Tournament match at VanNoord
Arena. The Knights, who are now 25-6 on the season, defeated the Belle’s,
who finish their season 9-17, in four sets, 25-11, 21-25, 25-22, 25-23.

Calvin played the match without sophomore hitter Rebecca Kamp who sat out
Tuesday’s match with an injury.

After winning the opening set in strong fashion, Calvin began to run into a
stubborn Saint Mary’s squad that began to turn the momentum. In the second
set, it was deadlocked at 14 when Saint Mary’s went on a 5-0 run to help
propel itself to a second set win. The third set was close all the way
through, but Calvin maintained a small lead and won 25-22. In the fourth set,
Saint Mary’s led 22-21 but Calvin rebounded by winning four of the final five
points to close out the match.

In Kamp’s absence, her younger sister Lizzie stepped up. She led the
Knights with 16 of Calvin’s 58 kills, while Renee DeHaan added 15 kills and
sophomore Erin VanderPlas had 11 kills. Saint Mary’s had 45 kills as a team,
with Lorna Slupczynski and Lindsey Stuss having 15 and 13 kills respectively.
Nora Bruskewitz had 42 assists, while Danie Brink of Saint Mary’s had 34.
The match was full of digs with Calvin holding a slight edge,75-73. Calvin had
6 team blocks, while Saint Mary’s had 2 team’s blocks.

When asked about the game, Warners replied, “I was impressed how we came out
with such new lineups. We had no time to practice with people in new positions
because Becca’s injury happened so suddenly. We have played through injuries
all year, and for the most part, have still won. We have more depth this year
than any other. There is no question that our depth has helped us through
these injuries. I am glad we kept everyone on this team.”

With this win, Calvin advances to the semifinals of the MIAA tournament where
the Knights will face Alma at 5:30 p.m. at Hope’s DeVos Fieldhouse. Hope will
face Albion in the second semifinal later that evening. Friday’s winners will
then play in the MIAA tournament final on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 0, Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo wins shootout 3-1)

GRAND RAPIDS -- Calvin's run through the MIAA Tournament was a short one as
the Knights were eliminated in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Tuesday
afternoon by way of a penalty kick shootout. Tuesday's semifinal contest will
go in the books as a 0-0 double-overtime tie but the Hornets (8-6-4) advanced
to Saturday's MIAA Tournament final by defeating Calvin 3-1 in a penalty kick
shootout. Kalamazoo will host Albion in Saturday's MIAA Tournament final with
the winner receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament. Sixth-seeded
Albion defeated second-seeded Adrian 1-0 in overtime in Tuesday's other
semifinal.

Calvin (13-4-1) entered the game as the top seed in the tournament but could
not capitalize on its scoring chances, sending the contest into a shootout
where the Knights were able to convert only one penalty kick opportunity.
Calvin is now 1-6-1 in shootouts including 0-2 in MIAA Tournament play.

In the shootout, Calvin senior goalkeeper Kayla Sulzer (St. Charles,
MO/Whitfield HS) came up with two saves but Calvin senior Emily Ottenhoff
(Palos Heights, IL/Chicago Christian HS) was the only Knight to successfully
convert a penalty. Kalamazoo's Julia Schroeder converted the clinching penalty,
scoring on its sixth attempt in the shootout.

Calvin outshot fourth-seeded Kalamazoo 25-6 and nearly broke through for a
goal in the 32nd minute on a well-placed cross by junior Elaine Schnabel
(Chesterton, IN/Chesterton HS) that was just headed wide of an open net.

In the second half, Ottenhoff looped a free kick into the box that was
collected by junior Kelli Honderd (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS). Honderd
fired a shot that was cleared off the backline by a Kalamazoo defender.

Calvin later outshot Kalamazoo 3-0 in the first overtime session and 3-1 in
the second overtime period.

Sulzer finished the game with three saves for the Knights.

Calvin is now 12-3-2 all-time in MIAA Tournament play including 1-2-1 against
Kalamazoo in the tournament.
Received on Tue Nov 3 22:42:25 2009