CSR (Volleyball Team Opens NCAA III Tournament Play With Win Over Otterbein)

CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR NOV. 11, 2010

Volleyball Team Opens NCAA III Tournament Play With Win Over Otterbein

VOLLEYBALL
Calvin 3, Otterbein 0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-14)

By Calvin sports information student assistant Mitch BlankespoorSPRINGFIELD, OH
- The Calvin College women’s volleyball team is usedto the campus of Wittenberg
University. Pam Evan’s Smith Arena isalmost a second home for Calvin. Ever
since 2005, they haveparticipated in the Wittenberg Border Battle; a
competition fitting thebest schools in Ohio versus the best schools in
Michigan. Earlier thisyear, Calvin went 2-2 in this tournament. Coming into
the day, Calvinis 3-4 lifetime at Pam Evans Smith Arena in the NCAA tournament.
 TheKnights improved that record to 4-4 on Thursday afternoon,
defeatingOtterbein College in straight sets 25-21, 25-19, 25-14.
The Knights started the first set strong with a couple of craftykills from
setter Megan Rietema. That jumped Calvin out to a 4-2lead. Neither team
proved to lengthen or shorter the gap. In theblink of an eye, Calvin led by a
score of 20-18. They then went on a4-1 run to take a 24-19 lead. This caused
a timeout call by Otterbeinhead coach Monica McDonald. The score was tied
seven times, but theCardinals could not take the lead. Calvin hit .323 in the
first setand held Otterbien to a .138 percentage.
The second set did not get off to a good start from a Calvinperspective.
Otterbein won the first five points of the set, and thentraded side outs with
Calvin until the scoreboard read 9-4. The Knightsthen went on a 10-3 run using
some great blocking and some Lizzie Kampkills to take the lead 14-12 which
forced another timeout from coachMcDonald.
“The block was great today. That made the passing easier which translates to a
good set” Kamp said after the match.
The third set was very similar to the first. The Knights got on topfrom the
start, and never looked back. The score was 5-2 at first,then 9-4, then 17-11,
then 20-12, and finally 25-14.
Calvin came into the match leading the nation in hitting percentageat a .325
clip. They did not disappoint as they hit .342 in thematch. The block for
Calvin was a huge success. They held Otterbien,who made their first appearance
in the NCAA tournament, to a -.044hitting percentage. Calvin totaled 15 team
blocks, while the Cardinalshad just one.
Individually Lizzie and Rebecca Kamp led the Knights with ten killseach.
Freshmen setter Megan Rietema dished out 24 assists and hadseven blocks.
“I was a little nervous heading into the match, but I had total confidence in
the team” Rietema said after the match.
The Knights had just one obstacle to get through, serving. Calvinhad a season
high 14 service errors and only five aces. Otterbein hadseven aces to go along
with seven errors.
“It’s no lie we served poorly today. I don’t think it was nerves;it just got
in our head. We didn’t change anything, we kept callingzones” Head coach Amber
Warners said after the match.

 The Knightsmove on to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament; the round they
weredefeated last year by rival Hope.

Calvin will face HeidelbergUniversity, the top ranked team in the region, which
defeatedGreenville College in four sets. The game will be at 3:30
EasternStandard Time at Wittenberg’s Pam Evans Smith Arena.
Received on Thu Nov 11 17:38:59 2010