CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEBRUARY 25, 2014
Softball Picked to Finish Sixth in MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll - Coach Previews Upcoming Season / Women's Lacrosse Set to Launch 2014 Campaign / Breanna Verkaik Named MIAA Co-Player of the Week in Women's Basketball / MIAA Basketball Tournament Ticket Information
SOFTBALL
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Calvin women's softball team has been picked to finish sixth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll released earlier today.
Defending champion Trine has been installed as the preseason favorite to repeat as league champion, receiving eight first place votes. Alma, which was picked to finish second, received the other first-place vote. Coaches could not vote for their own team.
Calvin is under the direction of first-year head coach Tim Syrek. The Knights return 11 letterwinners from a team that finished 17-13 overall last year and 8-8 in the league which was good for sixth place. Calvin is scheduled to open its season March 14 when it travels to Madonna for a doubleheader.
For a preseason interview with head coach Tim Syrek - visit the Calvin website at: http://www.calvin.edu/sports/audio/2014/Softball14/SoftballPreseason14.mp3
MIAA Preseason Poll Results (first-place votes in parenthesis): 1. Trine (8) 9 pts. 2. Alma (1) 19. 3. Hope 23. 4. Adrian 25. 5. Saint Mary's 38. 6. Calvin 41. 7. Kalamazoo 52. 8. Olivet 54. 9. Albion 63.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
The Calvin women's lacrosse team is set to open its season on Saturday at Otterbein University. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. A year ago, Calvin completed its inaugural MIAA campaign, finishing 4-12 overall and tied for fourth in the MIAA with a 2-4 conference record.
Calvin returns 12 letterwinners from last year's team and welcomes in seven newcomers. Leading the list of returning players are captains Mary Hoogstra (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS), Karissa Reed (Greenville/Greenville HS) and Michelle Holwerda (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS). A year ago, Hoogstra was named to the All-MIAA second team as a defender.
Holwerda is the top returning player on offense, having garnered 15 goals, five assists and 20 points in 2013. In the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, Calvin was picked to finish fifth in the league standings.
The MIAA will feature a nine-team league in women's lacrosse for the first time this spring as Kalamazoo and Saint Mary's now have varsity programs. Calvin's opening MIAA game is slated for April 2 when the Knights host Hope at 4 p.m.
For a preseason interview with head coach Blake Boehm, visit the Calvin website at: http://www.calvin.edu/sports/audio/2014/Lacrosse/BlakeBoehmPreseason.mp3
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
ROYAL OAK, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Olivet guard Kelsey Campbell and Calvin forward Breanna Verkaik its Players of the Week in women's basketball for games played through February 22.
Verkaik, a sophomore from Holland (Holland Christian HS), averaged 17.5 points per game in leading the Knights to two MIAA victories. She had 12 points and four assists in an 82-55 win over Adrian.
She then followed with 23 points, five rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals while playing only 22 minutes as Calvin defeated Kalamazoo, 72-57. Verkaik, who is being honored as Player of the Week for the second time this season and in her career, shot 57 percent from the field (12 of 21), 44 percent on 3-point shots (4 of 9) and 78 percent from the line (7 of 9) for the week.
Calvin will travel to Olivet on Thursday for an MIAA Tournament semifinal game slated for 7:30 p.m.
MIAA MEN'S/WOMEN's BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT TICKET INFORMATION
MIAA tournament basketball general admission tickets are currently on sale at the Calvin Box Office or on-line at: www.calvin.edu/boxoffice<http://www.calvin.edu/boxoffice> for the Wednesday, February 26th, 7:30 pm men's game at Calvin against Albion. Tickets will be available at the Box Office until 5 pm the day of the game, and then at Van Noord Arena one hour before game time. If the Calvin men advance in the tournament, tickets for Saturday's game will be on sale at Calvin on Thursday and Friday. Tickets for the Thursday, February 27th, 7:30 pm women's game at Olivet are available only through the Olivet Box Office.
Per MIAA regulations Calvin students may attend these games for free with their student ID. You must pick up a complimentary ticket either at the Box Office during the week or at the Arena door beginning at 6:30pm on Wednesday. Tickets for Faculty and Staff are $5.00 with a maximum of 2 tickets per ID and a maximum of 2 ID's. Additional tickets may be purchased at the full ticket price of $7.00 Season passes are not valid for tournament games.
Received on Tue Feb 25 22:54:08 2014
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