CKSR (Calvin Knight Saturday Sports Report for Oct. 31, 2015 - Part One)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR OCT. 31, 2015

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

CHARLOTTE - The Calvin men's cross country team claimed its 29th consecutive MIAA title on Saturday, cruising to a first place performance at the MIAA Championships with a team score of 20 points.

Calvin took the top three spots and claimed seven of the top 11 to finish 35 points ahead of second place Hope.

As has all year, Calvin junior Zac Nowicki (Comstock Park/Calvin Christian HS) led the way for the Knights in cruising to a first place time of 25:13 as he claimed MIAA Most Valuable Runner honors for the second straight year.

Sophomore Andrew Philipose (Mount Prospect, IL/John Hersey HS) was second (25:25) and sophomore Mark DeJong (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) third (25:25).

Calvin's top seven featured just a 38-second spread between its first and seventh finisher. Senior Ethan Anderson (Stillwater, MN) was part of Calvin's powerful pack, finishing sixth in 25:32 while senior Jeff Meitler (New Berlin, WI/Milwaukee Lutheran HS) was eighth (25:43), junior Jordan Kramer (Pewaukee, WI/Lake Country Lutheran HS) 10th (25:47) and junior Nate VanHaitsma (Olympia, WA/Olympia HS) 11th (25:51).

Nowicki, Philipose, DeJong, Meitler and Anderson were all named to the All-MIAA first team while VanHaitsma, Kramer, senior Bret Habura (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville HS), senior Andrew Otte (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) and senior Matt Oram (Toledo, OH/Toledo Christian HS) were all named to the All-MIAA second team.

Oram was 14th on Saturday with a time of 26:04 with Habura 17th (26:11) and Otte 18th (26:13).

"I was extremely pleased with our performance today," said Calvin head cross country coach Brian Diemer who is the winningest coaches in MIAA history with 37 league titles - 29 as men's coach and eight as women's coach. "We had great pack running and the guys really worked well together. Winning a league championship is never something that we take for granted. I think we are starting to peak at the right time."

Calvin will now prepare for the NCAA III Great Lakes Regional meet on November 14 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

CHARLOTTE - A valiant effort came up just short for the Calvin women's cross country team in its bid to upset 11th-ranked Hope at the MIAA Championships. With 100 meters to go, Calvin held the lead but the Flying Dutch were able to slip past a handful of runners in the final stretch to seal a first place victory with 42 points, five points ahead of 28th-ranked Calvin's 47-point production.

Junior Lauren Strohbehn (Stillwater, MN/St. Croix Preparatory HS) was again superb for Calvin, winning the race by a 19-second margin, clocking in with a time of 21:30 on the 6K course at the Broadway Acres Golf Club.

Sophomore Katie McLain (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian HS) also had a career-best day, placing seventh with a time of 22:44. Junior Autumn Vonk (Holland/Zeeland West HS) also came up with the finest race of her collegiate career, taking 10th in a time of 22:49.

Freshman Katie Diekema (Kenmore, Wash./Ingelmoor HS) and junior Jessie Mulder (Holland/Holland Christian HS) also had valiant efforts with Diekema placing 14th in 23:11 while Mulder was 15th in 23:16. Rounding out Calvin's top seven were freshman Marissa Hielkema (Lynden, WA/Lynden Christian HS) in 21st (23:40) and senior Lora Huizingh (Byron Center/South Christian HS) in 25th (23:59).

Hope's runners took second, eighth and ninth and then placed its fourth and fifth finishers in the 11th and 12th spots to edge the Knights for the win.

"I could not have asked anything more than what I received from this team today," said Calvin head cross country coach Brian Diemer. "Our women gave every ounce of energy they had and nearly pulled off a huge upset. This team continues to improve and we have a chance to do some good things in a few weeks. I'm excited at the direction this team is headed."

For her efforts, Strohbehn was also named to the All-MIAA first team as was McLain. Diekema, Vonk and Mulder were all named to the All-MIAA second team.

Calvin will prepare to compete at the NCAA III Great Lakes Regional meet on November 14 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 1, Olivet 0

OLIVET - When the Calvin women's soccer team needed a clutch goal Saturday afternoon at Olivet, the Knights went to a familiar source. Senior Taylor TenHarmsel (Holland/Holland Christian HS) delivered the game-winning goal with just 11:38 left in regulation, lifting Calvin to a 1-0 victory.

With the win, Calvin (16-2-1 overall, clinches its third MIAA regular season championship in the last four years and gains the top seed for next week's MIAA Tournament.

The goal was the fourth game-winning tally of the year for TenHarmsel as well as her ninth goal of the season. Earlier in the week, TenHarmsel assisted on Calvin's game-winning goal in a 4-3 overtime win at Alma. She also scored game-winning overtime goals in wins at Adrian and Kalamazoo this fall.

TenHarsemal's game-winning strike began with a well-placed cross from the right wing by junior Kailey Jo (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) and concluded with a full-volley blast from 10 yards out that snuck inside the far post.

Neither team was able to mount a shot at goal the remainder of the match as Calvin picked up its 11th shutout victory of the season.

Calvin senior goalkeeper Holly Ellerbroek (Holland/Holland Christian HS) collected a pair of saves in posting her seventh shutout of the season.

Calvin outshot Olivet 14-7 and forced Olivet goalkeeper Deanna Zolnoski into making seven saves.

Calvin's dogged effort in finding the back of the net came to fruition late in the game once again as the Knights picked up their sixth one-goal victory of the year in conference play.

"This group has really developed a blue collar work ethic," said Calvin women's soccer coach Mark Recker. "This group has learned that it takes every second of every minute of the game to complete a victory. They are a special group of players that play for one another."

The MIAA regular season title is the eighth under Recker who has been head coach of the Calvin women's soccer program since 2001.

"Each player only has a chance to compete for four of these (championships) during their career," said Recker. "As a coach, I've been truly blessed to be around for more than four of these and share those experiences with so many wonderful Calvin student-athletes. I'm amazed every time how blessed we are at Calvin College."

Calvin will close out its regular season campaign on Monday night at Hope at 6 p.m.

The Knights will then host an MIAA Tournament semifinal game on November 6 against either Kalamazoo or Olivet at 3 p.m.

MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER STANDINGS THROUGH 10-31-15 GAMES

Calvin 14-0-1
Hope 12-1-2
Kalamazoo 9-5-1
Olivet 8-5-2
Alma 7-7-1
Albion 6-8-1
Adrian 2-9-4
Saint Mary's 2-12-1
Trine 1-14-1

MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 7, Albion 0

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The rain and cold didn't slow down the Knights on Saturday afternoon. Calvin bounced the Albion Britons on senior day, 7-0. The Knights finish the regular season at 18-0-1 and 14-0-0 in the MIAA.
"Great to get a result today," said head coach Ryan Souders. "Really proud of the guys commitment to standards despite the weather conditions."
Senior Sam Hanover (St. Johns, Mich./St. Johns) struck first on senior day in the 10th minute. Hanover was assisted by fellow senior Taylor Pruis (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian).
The Knights would strike again a minute later, this time junior Stephan Hooker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian), Taylor Pruis was credited with an assist on the play.
Hooker would score his 10th goal of the season four minutes later, putting the ball in the lower right corner of the net. Junior Isky Van Doorne (Calgary, Alberta/Western Canada) had an assist.
Sophomore Mitch Stark (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon) started the scoring in the second half with his fifth goal of the year in the 53rd minute, with Stephan Hooker getting an assist.
In the 55th minute, Sam Hanover headed a shot into the back the net for his second goal of the day from a pass from Mitch Stark.
Three minutes later, Mitch Stark would tally his second goal of the match, with Taylor Pruis getting his third assist of the match.
Sam Hanover finished senior day with a hat-trick. Hanover scored his 11th goal of the year in the 64th minute. Mitch Stark assisted on the play.
Senior Niko Giantsopoulos (Markham, Ontario/St. Augustine Catholic) recorded three saves in the shutout victory.
The Knights peppered the Briton net on Saturday with 27 shots, with 16 shots on net. Albion recorded three shots on the day.
The Knights return to action on Wednesday as they start the postseason in the MIAA Tournament as Calvin hosts the No. 4 seed Hope Flying Dutchmen at 3 p.m.

FINAL 2015 MIAA MEN'S SOCCER STANDINGS

Calvin 14-0-0
Kalamazoo 10-4-0
Alma 8-5-1
Hope 6-7-1
Adrian 5-8-1
Trine 5-9-0
Olivet 3-10-1
Albion 3-11-0

VOLLEYBALL
Calvin 3, Trine 0

by Paul Kluitenberg
Grand Rapids, Mich. - In their final match of the 2015 regular season, the Knights put together a three set, 25-14, 25-13, 25-16 victory over the visiting Thunder of Trine University.
The victory against Trine marked the completion of a 16-0 undefeated MIAA regular season. For the three Calvin graduating seniors Jamie Kooiman (Eugene. Ore./ South Eugene), Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian), and Rachel Lubben (Grand Rapids, Mich./ Grand Rapids Christian) this afternoon's victory cemented their titles as four time MIAA champions.
The Knights made quick work of the Thunder with a 25-14 first set victory. Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./ Timothy Christian) had an impressive first set tallying two service aces. Trine kept it close through the first 12 points. However, with a 7-5 lead, the Knights blew the game wide open with a 7-0 run highlighted by a service ace from Senior Jamie Kooiman and two kills from Freshman Anna Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian). Freshman Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville) played a gritty first set with 6 digs. The Knights finished the set with a 16-5 kill advantage and a .394 kill percentage.
The second set proved to be just as difficult for the Trine Thunder. The Knights followed up their emphatic first set victory with a 25-13 second set win. Calvin picked up where they left off putting together a 9-2 lead highlighted by two kills from Maggie Kamp and a service ace from Laura Danhoff (Willard, Ohio/Willard). With a 9-5 run, the Knights picked up the second set victory. Calvin held a 12-6 kill advantage with six of those kills coming from Laura Danhoff.
The final set was a carbon copy of the first two. The Knights dominated, never giving Trine an opportunity to fight back. Calvin took the first six points of the match.
Trine brought the score within five points but could not bring it any closer. The Knights won 25-16 and took the final set with a 18-11 kill advantage and spread 15 digs over nine different players. Sisters Maggie Kamp and Anna Kamp finished the third set with seven and five kills, respectively.
Following the match, coach Amber Warners praised her graduating seniors saying "the three of them have done an outstanding job of holding their standards high, working their tails off, and helping those around them get better, day after day. I want to thank them for being selfless."
Heading into the postseason, Coach Warners is feeling confident and positive saying that "we are doing a great job of putting everything together. Our blocking has improved a lot and our serving has remained consistent."
The Knights will return to action at Van Noord Arena for the MIAA Conference semifinals at 7:30 pm against #4 seed Trine in a rematch of Saturday's regular season finale.

FINAL 2015 MIAA VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS

Calvin 16-0
Hope 14-2
Adrian 9-7
Trine 8-8
Alma 8-8
Saint Mary's 7-9
Albion 6-10
Olivet 3-13
Kalamazoo 1-15
Received on Sat Oct 31 23:54:55 2015