CALVIN KNIGHT SATURDAY SPORTS REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 7, 2015
Volleyball, Men's Soccer and Women's Soccer Teams Win MIAA Tournament Titles;
Swimming and Diving Teams Take First Place at Calvin Quad Meet
VOLLEYBALL
Calvin 3, Hope 0
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin volleyball team won its fifth-straight MIAA Tournament title with a win over No. 10 Hope at Van Noord Arena on Saturday evening. The 3-0 victory is the third 3-0 victory for the Knights over the Flying Dutch in 2015. This is the 12th MIAA Tournament title for Calvin and the 10th under head coach Dr. Amber Warners. Calvin defeated Hope, 25-17, 25-23, and 25-21. Calvin improved to 28-3 on the year and Hope falls to 24-6.
"I thought it was an equally played match," said head coach Dr. Amber Warners. "I thought both teams were serving aggressively and took each other out of system at different points of the match. I think that we were maybe a little more consistent. I felt our defense was phenomenal tonight. I was really happy that we weathered the storm and that we stayed tough mentally and that we stayed engaged."
With Hope leading in the first set 5-4, Calvin would go on a 3-0 run behind the serve of senior Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian). Kamp and the Knights would extend the lead with a 10-2 run to push the lead to 17-7. The Knights wouldn't look back from there, taking the first set, 25-17.
In the second set of the match, the Flying Dutch had the lead for the majority of the set. Hope saw its largest lead of the set at 12-7 but Calvin continued to chip away at the Hope lead, until the Knights tied the set at 14. Hope broke the tie with a kill and later built a 20-17 advantage. Once again, the Knights would fight back and tie the set at 23. After a Hope attacking error, Calvin junior Laura Danhoff (Willard, Ohio/Willard) finished the set with an ace off of the end line, giving Calvin the set, 25-23.
The two rivals would go on to exchange the lead and point in the third set until the set was tied at nine. Freshman Anna Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian) broke the tie with a kill from sophomore Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian). Leading 13-12, Calvin would put the set out of reach with a 6-0 run. Calvin would go on to take the set 25-21.
Calvin recorded 43 kills, 42 assists, 76 digs and five aces as a team. The Kamp sisters led Calvin in kills on Saturday night with Maggie Kamp tallying 14 and Anna Kamp with 10. Jenna Lodewyk has 33 assists on the evening. Senior Jamie Kooiman (Eugene, Ore./South Eugene) had a team-high 14 digs. Senior Rachel Lubben (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) had three total blocks.
This is the second time in school history that Calvin has won five-straight MIAA Tournament titles, the first being from 2004-2009, with no tournament champion being crowned in 2008. Calvin has also won 12 of the 16 MIAA Tournament crowns all-time.
The Knights claim the automatic bid with the win and will advance to the NCAA III Tournament for the 12th consecutive year. Calvin will learn its NCAA III Tournament fait when the pairings are announced on Monday morning at 11 a.m. (EST).
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 3, Hope 0
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - After playing Hope to a pair of scoreless draws during the MIAA regular season, the Calvin women's soccer team broke through for a 3-0 victory over the Flying Dutch Saturday afternoon in the MIAA Tournament Championship game.
With the win, Calvin advances to the NCAA III Tournament for the 11th time in school history and for the ninth time under current head coach Mark Recker who recorded his 225th career victory at Calvin on Saturday. The victory also marked Calvin's sixth MIAA Tournament title in program history.
The Knights will find out their NCAA III Tournament assignment on Monday afternoon when the NCAA III Tournament pairings are announced.
With Saturday's victory over Hope, Calvin (18-2-2) now has a 20-game unbeaten streak dating back to Labor Day weekend.
Saturday's MIAA Tournament final marked the fifth game in 11 days for the Knights who came up with an inspired performance to defend their home field and improve to 4-0 against Hope in MIAA Tournament Championship games.
The two teams had played a combined 233 minutes of scoreless soccer this year until junior Allie Corp (Livonia/Stevenson HS) was able to slip a one-timer just inside the far post after receiving a crossing pass in the box from senior Paige Capel (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS). The goal came in the 14th minute of play and was the first of the year for Corp.
Capel struck for her 15th goal of the season just two-and-a-half minutes later, hooking up with senior Taylor Ten Harmsel (Holland/Holland Christian HS) on lead pass in the box with Capel sliding a shot far post to put the Knights up 2-0.
Calvin 2-0 advantage held into halftime, forcing Hope (16-3-3) to press forward on offense in the second half.
Calvin's defense stiffened against the offensive surge by the Flying Dutch as Calvin's backline cleared ball after ball while senior goalkeeper Holly Ellerbroek (Holland/Holland Christian HS) came up with four second half saves.
Capel then provided the clinching goal with just 3:49 left in regulation as she got loose deep in the Hope end and rifled a shot just inside the upper far right post for her fifth goal of the MIAA Tournament and the 49th goal of her Calvin career.
"I told our team in our pre-game meeting that the team with the will and the passion for the outcome would succeed today," said recker. "This is a team that from day one has been focused on playing together and today they pulled together once again. As this season has gone along, we have realized that this team has something special inside. This group realizes that as a unit, this team can really succeed."
Saturday's game marked the second meeting of the week between Hope and Calvin as the two teams had battled to a 0-0 double-overtime tie in Holland on Monday night in the regular season finale for both teams.
"I really have to recognize my (seven) seniors," said Recker. "They were determined today not to go out on a losing note on their home field and waiting to see if a (NCAA) Tournament berth is going to happen."
Calvin finished the game with a 13-6 shots at goal advantage. Ellerbroek had six saves in posting her 10th shutout of the season.
Calvin is now 20-3-2 all-time in MIAA Tournament play and is now 6-2-1 in MIAA Tournament championship games.
MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 3, Alma 0
By John Leerar
The Calvin men's soccer team captured its third MIAA Tournament title in the last four years, defeating the visiting Alma Scots 3-0 Saturday afternoon at Zuidema Field.
With the win, Calvin receives an automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament which opens play next week. Calvin will be making its 14th appearance in NCAA III Tournament play including its eighth appearance in the last nine years.
Ranked No. 1 in the latest NSCAA Division III, Calvin is now 20-0-1, reaching the 20-win plateau for the first time in school history.
In Saturday's contest, Alma looked to be in control for the first few minutes of the game, keeping the ball in the Knight's side of the field and firing off a shot on a breakaway that sailed just wide.
The momentum shifted in the fifth minute when a beautiful cross from senior Taylor Pruis (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) found the foot of junior Stephan Hooker (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) for the first goal of the game.
Calvin kept the pressure up, peppering the Alma goal with 5 more shots over the next 15 minutes.
That pressure paid off when in the 19th minute senior Nick Groenewold (Oak Brook, Ill/Timothy Christian) floated a ball into the box and senior Sam Hanover (St. Johns/St. Johns) deflected it to Pruis who hammered it home to give the Knights a 2-0 advantage.
Calvin tried to press the advantage in the remaining minutes of the first half but was unable to find the back of the net again before the halftime buzzer.
The second half started out with momentum on the side of the Knights. In the 51st minute, sophomore Mitch Stark (South Lyon/South Lyon) dribbled past multiple Alma defenders in the box and rifled a shot past the Alma keeper to make it 3-0 Knights.
Both Alma and Calvin had chances in the rest of the half, but when the final whistle sounded the Knights were victorious by a score of 3-0.
"We were led by our seniors," said Calvin men's soccer coach Ryan Souders. "They've been here before and they played really well. I credit Alma. What a year they have had. They did not make it easy for us."
According to Souders, the goal by Hooker in the opening five minutes of the game was pivotal. "That goal was huge," said Souders. "We say that goals change games, both offensively and defensively. Playing with the lead right away was a huge advantage for us."
Calvin outshot Alma 27-10 and held the advantage in corner kicks as well, 14-3.
Senior keeper Niko Giantsopoulos (Markham, Ontario/St. Augustine Catholic) earned his 20th victory and 16th clean sheet for the Knights, tallying three saves.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Calvin women's swimming and diving team took first place at the Calvin Quad Saturday, finishing the two-day competition with a team total of 1,123 points with Albion second (882.5), Ohio Northern third (760) and Carthage fourth (699.5).
Calvin had several strong performances on Saturday that helped catapult the Knights to the first place finish.
A highlight for Calvin was the 200 freestyle as the Knights went 1-2-3-4 in the even led by sophomore Abby VanHarn (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) who took first place with a time of 1:58.46. Senior Megan Schroder (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) was second (2:01.77) followed by freshman Kendall Murphy (Modesto, Ca./Home Schooled) in third (2:01.98) and sophomore Ana Estrella (Hudsonville/Calvin Christian HS) in fourth (2:02.49).
In the 1,650 freestyle, freshman Anna Serino (Pinckney/Pinckney HS) took first place with an impressive time of 18:36.02.
Serino then led off Calvin's first place 800 freestyle relay team that clocked in with a time of 8:00.83. She was joined on the relay by Schroder, Murphy and VanHarn.
In the 200 butterfly, senior Alayna Gallegos (Lakeville, MN./Lakeville HS) took first place in a time of 2:15.43.
Calvin then swept the three-meter diving competition with sophomore Nicole Langerak (Jenison/Jenison HS) winning with a score of 420.68 while junior Hilary Glover (Wyoming/Calvin Christian HS) was second (415.87) and freshman Hannah Marie Heismann (Monroe/Monroe HS) third (372.29). The scores by Langerak and Glover were both NCAA III qualifying scores.
Calvin's 400 freestyle relay team of sophomore Rachel Mattson (Ann Arbor/Ann Arbor Huron HS), Serino, Schroder and VanHarn capped off the meet by winning in a time of 3:39.42.
"Overall we had a very good weekend," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We had a good mix of improvement. We have some things to work on that will help motivate us over the next few weeks until we hit Thanksgiving break."
Calvin returns to action next Saturday, hosting Wheaton (IL) at 1 p.m.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The Calvin men's swimming and diving team took first place at the Calvin Quad Saturday, finishing the two-day competition with a team total of 967.5 points with Carthage second (927), Ohio Northern third (791.5) and Albion fourth (698).
A big highlight for Calvin came in the 200 freestyle as senior Brandon Muma (Grand Rapids/Forest Hills Eastern HS) took first place in a time of 1:43.99 while freshman Andrew Kasper (Batavia, IL/Marmion Academy) was third (1:45.67) and senior Mitch Schroder (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian HS) fourth (1:47.06).
In the 100 breaststroke, senior Johnson Cochran (Mount Vernon, Oh./Mount Vernon HS) had a first place time of 58.01 while sophomore Eli Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant HS) came in fourth (59.60).
Cochran also took second in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:10.29.
In the 1,650 freestyle, freshman Stephen Barrett (Wyoming, Oh./Wyoming HS) was second (17:22.26).
Calvin's 800 freestyle relay team of Kasper, sophomore Skyler Fish (Ionia/Ionia HS), Barrett and Muma took first place in a time of 7:10.43.
Freshman Ben Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant HS) added a second place time of 53.60 in the 100 backstroke.
In addition, Calvin swept the top three spots on the three-meter diving board with sophomore Michael Moentmann (Solon, Oh./Solon HS) winning with an NCAA III qualifying score of 493.34. Junior Dirk Tanis (Holland/Holland Christian HS) also had an NCAA III qualifying score of 454.33 that was good for second place while sophomore Brian Bolton (Kentwood/East Kentwood HS) was third (417.75).
"Overall we had a very good weekend," said Calvin head swim coach Dan Gelderloos. "We had a good mix of improvement. We have some things to work on that will help motivate us over the next few weeks until we hit Thanksgiving break."
Calvin returns to action next Saturday, hosting Wheaton (IL) at 1 p.m.
Received on Sat Nov 7 23:47:26 2015
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