CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Men's Soccer Opens MIAA Slate With Shutout Win Over Trine;
Volleyball Sweeps Away Olivet in MIAA Match;
Cross Country Teams Continue to Hold National Rankings
MEN'S SOCCER
The 15th-ranked Calvin men's soccer team opened its 2015 MIAA season with a 3-0 shutout over the visiting Thunder of Trine University Wednesday afternoon at Zuidema Field.
Calvin outshot Trine (3-3-1 overall) the Thunder 18-6 but was unable to dent the back of the net until the closing moments of the first half when sophomore Micah Beard (Otsego/Otsego HS) whipped in a shot after receiving a pass from freshman Jacob Witte (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS). The goal came with just 2:10 left in the first half and the fourth of the season for Beard.
Calvin continued to pepper the Trine goal in the second half but did not break through again until the 74th minute when Witte ripped a shot from the wing past the Trine keeper on a feed from junior Isky VanDoorne (Calgary, AB/Western Canada HS).
Five minutes later, Witte struck again, this time off a lead pass from freshman Bobby McCaw (Dubuque, IA/Hempstead HS).
Meanwhile senior goalkeeper Niko Giantsopoulos (Markham, Ont/St. Augustine Catholic HS) was stellar once again, making three acrobatic saves to post his third shutout of the season the 15th of his Calvin career.
"It wasn't always pretty for us today but you have to credit Trine for some of that because they are a much improved side," said Calvin men's soccer coach Ryan Souders after the game. "I expect every game in our league this season to be a battle. We got some strong contributions off the bench from our young guys which was nice to see. We will need them to contribute as the season continues."
Calvin is now 5-0-1 on the season heading into a Saturday showdown with rival Hope at 2:30 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
VOLLEYBALL
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The No. 2 Knights were too much for the Olivet Comets on Wednesday night, winning the match 25-3, 25-17, 25-13. Calvin improves to 7-1 on the year and 4-0 in MIAA action. Olivet is now 5-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
The Knights started the first set strong, taking an early 11-2 lead. Calvin never looked back from there, taking the first set 25-3. The Knights hit .556 in the first set with a service ace from freshman Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville HS).
The Comets applied more pressure in the second set, but the Knights were too much taking the set, 25-17. The Knights were led by senior Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian HS) with four kills in set number two.
Calvin was able to close out the match taking the third set, 25-13. Sophomore Kristen Vyletel (Ann Arbor, Mich./ Ann Arbor Huron HS) finished the match with two-straight aces to clinch the victory.
Freshman Anna Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian HS) led Calvin with a career-best 11 kills, Maggie Kamp finished the night with 10 kills. Sophomore Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian HS) tallied 30 assists on the night. Keilahna Castillo led the Knights on Wednesday with 12 digs. Junior Laura Danhoff (Willard, Ohio/Willard HS), Maggie Kamp, Jenna Lodewyk, Kristen Vyletel and Keilahna Castillo all finished with two aces.
The Knights return back to action on Friday as they travel down to the Emory National Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia. Calvin will face Franklin & Marshall, No. 6 Washington - St. Louis, No. 1 Emory and No. 9 Cal Lutheran.
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
The Calvin men's and women's cross country teams continue to hold spots in the national rankings released this afternoon by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association.
On the women's side, Calvin is ranked ninth in this week's poll, down one spot from a week ago. On the men's side, Calvin is ranked 19th, down three spots from a week ago.
This past weekend, the Calvin men's cross country team took first place at its own Knight Invitational with 57 points while the Calvin women's cross country team took second with 115 points.
Both teams are currently off until September 26 when they compete at an MIAA Jamboree hosted by Hope.
The latest USTFCCA Division III Top 25 rankings can be found online at: http://www.ustfccca.org/2015/09/featured/johns-hopkins-north-central-ill-extend-their-top-ranked-streaks-in-diii-poll
Received on Wed Sep 16 23:43:22 2015
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