CKSR (Vball Advances to National Final / Men's Soccer Stuns Messiah / Basketball Teams Post Friday Night Victories / Swimming and Diving Teams Fall to Wayne State)

From: Jeffrey Febus <jfebus@calvin.edu>
Date: Sat Nov 19 2016 - 01:36:59 EST

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR NOV 18, 2016 (Part Two)

Volleyball Advances to National Final with Semifinal Win over Northwestern;
Men's Soccer Stuns Messiah 2-1 in Double-Overtime In NCAA III Tournament Sectional Semifinals;
Basketball Teams Post Friday Nights Wins;
Swimming and Diving Teams Fall to Wayne State

VOLLEYBALL
Calvin 3, Northwestern 0

OSHKOSH, Wis. - The Knights advanced to the NCAA Tournament finals for the fifth time in program history with a 3-0 victory over Northwestern (Minn.) on Thursday evening. The Knights swept the eagles, 28-26, 25-18, 25-17. Calvin improves to 32-1 on the year and Northwestern finishes the season at 34-5. Calvin will face Washington University at St. Louis at 8 p.m. Eastern standard time and 7 p.m. Central standard time at the Kolf Sports Center in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

"I'd like to congratulate Beth from Northwestern University," said head coach Amber Warners. "She does a fantastic job with her players. I don't think that the scores reflect how tight of a match it was, every point was fought pretty hard, they have a lot of talent and she does a good job with them. We have talked all season about just playing, I thought that we were in control until it was about 20 and I loved with how we kept with that philosophy and we were confident in ourselves, despite a couple of mistakes, and that is the name of the game."

Calvin took an early 5-2 lead on the Eagles in the first set behind the serve of sophomore Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville) and junior Emily Blankespoor (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian). Senior Laura Danhoff (Willard, Ohio/Willard) had two kills in the Calvin run. Northwestern would cut the lead to 7-6 before Calvin would go on a 3-1 run to take a 10-7 lead. Calvin would push the lead to four on four occasions before the Eagles would strike-back and tie the set at 19. Northwestern would take a 24-23 lead, but that would not phase the Knights. Freshman Sarah DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northpointe Christian) tie the set at 24 and 26. Laura Danhoff recorded the final two kills of the set and the Knights would win 28-26. Laura Danhoff had nine kills in the first set.

The two teams were neck-and-neck to start the second set, with neither team being able to get separation. The Knights were able to get some separation, leading 17-16. Calvin would go on a 3-0 run on the serve of Keilahna Castillo. The Maroon and Gold would cruise to close the set on a 5-1 run to win 25-18. Laura Danhoff finished with a set-high six kills and the Knights hit .368 in the second set.

The Knights would jump on the Eagles early in the third set, with a 4-1 lead. Northwestern would claw-back. Tied at 15, Calvin would close the set on a 10-2 run to clinch a spot in the championship match, Sarah DeVries had three kills in the final run and finished with a set-high five kills in the third set.

Laura Danhoff finished with a match-high 19 kills, Sarah DeVries had 12 kills on Friday night. Jenna Lodewyk had a match-high 42 assists. Jenna Lodewyk, Keilahna Castillo and Emily Blankespoor all had two aces for Calvin. Keilahna Castillo led the Knights with 12 digs, with Emily Blankespoor tallying 11 digs. Ally Fea and Sarah DeVries both had two blocks.

This will be this fifth national championship match in program history. The Knights won the title in 2010 and 2013

MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 2, Messiah 1 (2OT)

GRANTHAM, Pa. - The Calvin men's soccer team pulled off a stunning 2-1 double-overtime victory over fourth-ranked Messiah College in the sectional semifinals of the NCAA III Tournament Friday night.

Calvin advances to the national quarterfinals Saturday to face Franklin and Marshall (Pa.) in a match set to kick off at 5 p.m. at Messiah College.

Playing the tradition-rich Falcons on their home field, the 16th-ranked Knights (21-2-0) fell behind early as Messiah's Jacob Bender lashed a 25-yard strike into the top corner of the net to give the Falcons (19-1-3) a 1-0 lead just 7:17 into the match.

Messiah threatened to widen its lead on several ocassions as the first half continued. Calvin junior goalkeeper Nate Van Ryn (Grandville, Mich./Calvin Christian HS) was spectacular in nets however, stoning a clear break on goal by Kirby Robbins and later Bender. Messiah also skipped a shot off the Calvin crossbar in the first half but could not build a two-goal cushion.

With a new sense of energy, Calvin pressed the attack in the second half and found gold from a familiar source in the 65th minute as sophomore Bobby McCaw (Dubuque, Ia./Hempstead HS) threaded a shot through a forest of Messiah defenders into the back of the net. The goal by McCaw came off a corner kick by junior Matt Hinds (Frankenmuth, Mich./Frankenmuth HS) and was his seventh goal in the last five games including his third in NCAA III Tournament play.

McCaw threatened again in the 76th minute but his shot sailed just high. Junior Mitch Stark (South Lyon, Mich./South Lyon HS) also had a dangerous attempt that sailed high in the 84th minute.

Calvin outshot Messiah 3-0 in the first overtime session and carried the momentum into the second overtime session. With 4:22 left in overtime, Calvin was awarded a free kick just past midfield along the left wing after a Messiah foul. Senior Stephan Hooker (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) bent the free kick into the box that was deflected right to the feet of sophomore Jacob Witte (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) who toe-poked a shot into the roof of the net to give the Knights a stunning sudden-death overtime victory.

The goal by Witte was his second game-winning goal in NCAA III Tournament play as he also scored the game-winner in a 1-0 victory over Kenyon College in the national quarterfinals last November.

Messiah finished the game with an 18-13 shots at goal advantage but Calvin outshot the Falcons 12-5 over the final 63 minutes of the game

"I don't think anyone on our team will argue that we were completely outplayed in the first 45 minutes but Nate (Van Ryn) made some big saves and our back four made some good sticks to keep us in the game," said Calvin men's soccer coach Ryan Souders. "Messiah is an unbelievable team. They are the gold standard in Division III soccer so to win on their field is a pretty amazing feeling. We have all the respect in the world for their program and head coach Brad McCarty. To the credit of our team, they never gave up, showed fight and grit and were able to claw back. I though the work rate of our senior midfielders - Stephan Hooker, Isky Van Doorne (Calgary, AB/Western Canada HS) and Dave Waterson (Dewitt, Mich./Dewitt HS) was tremendous. This was a team win. The big challenge now to lick our wounds, regroup and refocus for a very tough game tomorrow night."

Calvin will be facing Franklin and Marshall (15-3-4) for the second straight year in NCAA III Tournament play. The Knights defeated the Diplomats 1-0 in a sectional semifinal last year. Franklin and Marshall defeated Cortland State Friday 1-0 in overtime to advance to play Calvin Saturday.

Calvin's victory over Messiah marked the second time the two teams have met in NCAA III Tournament play. Messiah defeated the Knights 2-0 in the 2009 NCAA III Championship final.

MEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 90, Finlandia 49

By Gina de Haan

The Calvin men's basketball season opened its season on Friday night with a 90-49 nonconference victory over Finlandia University.

Under the direction of veteran head coach Kevin Vande Streek, the Knights come into the season looking to bounce back from a 10-15 campaign last year that saw Calvin finish in sixth in the final MIAA regular season standings. In the MIAA preseason coaches' poll released last week, Calvin was picked to finish fifth.

"I thought we did a good job today," said Vande Streek. "We've continued to make progress here in this first month, and today was no exception."

Calvin sophomore post Austin Bykerk (Jenison, MI/Unity Christian), a newcomer from Dordt College, got the Knights on the board first, scoring a layup 15 seconds into the game. The Lions came back down and scored on the other end, courtesy of a jump shot by Austin Carlson. The two teams exchanged points and the score was tied at 9 just under four minutes into the game.

The Knights went on a 12-2 run, fueled by six points by senior Michael Welch (Stevensville, MI/Lakeshore HS). Finlandia head coach Mike O'Donnell called timeout in an attempt to halt Calvin's momentum, but the Knights' outscored the Lions 6-2 coming out of the break to take a 27-13 with 8:16 remaining in the first half.

In the five minutes of play before halftime, Bykerk scored six points for the Knights, including two dunks.

Calvin rolled into halftime with a comfortable 47-20 lead. In the first half, Bykerk led the Knights with 12 points. Senior Cam Denney (Bluffton, IN/Norwell HS) was a key first half playmaker with seven points, eight assists and nine rebounds, including three offensive boards.

The teams went back-and-forth to start the second half, but the Knights continued to build on their lead as senior Nick Kronemeyer (Hamilton, MI/Hamilton HS) scored four straight points to put Calvin up by 28 (26-54), the largest lead of the game.

With just over 13 minutes left to play, the Knights would string together seven consecutive points. A triple by junior Mike Siegel (Fremont, MI/Fremont HS) capped off the run to give the Knights a 63-31 advantage.

The Lions were unable to answer the Knights' offense that went on a 13-5 run in the final five minutes of play. Calvin would claim a 90-59 victory.

Denney earned a double-double in the season opener win, snagging 13 boards and dishing out 10 assists.

"I thought Cam had a phenomenal first half," said Vande Streek. "His play really sent the tone. He's done a great job of leading and speaking up. The addition of Austin [Bykerk] has allowed Cam to move to the perimeter more, so he can contribute from out there as well."

Bykerk led the Knights in scoring, finishing with 16 points (8-14 FG, 0-1 FT). Siegel and Kronemeyer followed, adding 12 and 10 points, respectively. Mike Welch finished with eight points and eight rebounds. Calvin's bench contributed 55 points, as 16 Knights saw playing time.

Freshman Matt Trewhella (Granger, IN/Penn HS) led all players with four steals. The Knights outrebounded the Lions 54-37.

Tomorrow afternoon, the Knights will continue its opening weekend as they host a tough No. 18 Augustana College team.

"They're used to winning. They're strong, big, athletic kids. They're well-disciplined and extremely well coached," said Vande Streek. "We're excited to play them and we're going to learn things. If we do things well possession-wise, we'll have some success, but if we don't, they'll make us pay the price."

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Calvin 68, University of Dubuque 55

SHEBOYGAN, Wisc. - The Calvin women's basketball team improved to 2-0 on the year with a 68-55 victory over the University of Dubuque Friday evening at the Lakeland College Tipoff Tournament.

Calvin will face host Lakeland in the tournament championship game Saturday at 5 p.m. (EST).

Calvin trailed Dubuque 17-14 after one quarter of play but outscored the Spartans 22-12 in the second quarter to take a 36-29 halftime lead.

The Knights limited Dubuque to 24.4 percent field goal shooting in the second half, outscoring the Spartans 18-7 in the third quarter to widen their advantage to an 18-point margin heading into the final quarter of play.

Calvin cruised from that point on, leading by as many as 21 points at 65-44 before a late Dubuque run provided the final 13-point margin of victory for the Knights.

Junior Ali Spayde (Lewis Center, Oh./Worthington Christian HS) led Calvin in scoring with 15 points while junior Bre Luurtsema (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) had 14 points, five rebounds and four steals. Senior Anna Timmer (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian HS) tallied her second consecutive double-double including the 10th of her collegiate career, notching 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Calvin outrebounded Dubuque (0-2) 45-39.

Lakeland defeated Mount Mary 84-42 in Friday's opening first round game.

MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

DETROIT, Mich. - The Calvin men's swimming & diving team fell at Wayne State on Friday night, 134.5-98.5. The Knights recorded first-place points in three events.
Junior Michael Moentmann (Solon, Ohio/Solon) was victorious on the 3-meter boards at 268.57.
Senior Eli Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant) recorded first-place points in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:02.19.
The Knights finished the night taking first-place points in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:29.99.

WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING

DETROIT, Mich. - The Calvin women's swimming & diving team fell at Wayne State on Friday night, 140-98. The Knights recorded first-place points in four events.
Sophomore Anna Serino (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney) won the 1650-yard freestyle at 18:50.91.
Junior Abby Van Harn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) was victorious in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:57.29.
Junior Klara Oh (Kent, Wash.) recorded first-place points in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:13.55.
The Knights finished the night taking first-place points in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:42.50.
Received on Sat Nov 19 01:38:13 2016

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