CKSR (Basketball Teams Receive NCAA III Tournament Bids / Michael Welch Named MIAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week / Softball Sweeps MIAA Player of the Week Honors)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR FEB. 27, 2017

Basketball Teams Receive NCAA III Tournament Bids;
Michael Welch Named MIAA Men's Basketball Player of the Week;
Softball Sweeps MIAA Player of the Week Honors

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's basketball team will open the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament in Wisconsin. The Knights earned at at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament. Calvin will open the tournament against UW-Oshkosh on Friday at UW-Oshkosh.
Calvin enters the weekend with a 22-5 record.
The Titans are 24-3 on the year with a 13-1 record in the WIAC.
The Knights are coming off a MIAA Tournament finals appearance, after beating No. 12 Hope in the semifinals.
Calvin is 21-16 all-time in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
This will be the 17th appearance in the tournament for Calvin.
Joining the Knights and Titans will be DePauw and Gustavus Adolphus.
DePauw and Gustavus Adolphus will meet in the opening first round game at 5:30 p.m. (EST) with Calvin and Wisconsin-Oshkosh set to play in the second first round game at 8 p.m. (EST).
Teams advancing out of Friday night will play in the regional final Saturday at 8 p.m. (EST).

NCAA III TOURNAMENT BRACKET: http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/basketball-women/d3

MEN'S BASKETBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's basketball team will start the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament in Ohio. The Knights secured a spot in the tournament with a victory in the MIAA Tournament finals against No. 18 Hope. Calvin will open the tournament against Marietta on Friday at Marietta. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
Calvin is 34-22 all-time in the NCAA Division III Tournament, with two national titles and four semifinals appearances.
This will be the 21st appearance for the Knights in the tournament, and the 10th appearance under head coach Kevin Vande Streek.
Marietta is 24-4 on the year and posted a 16-2 record in the OAC. The Pioneers defeated Baldwin Wallace in the OAC Championship, 83-74.
Joining Calvin and Marietta in the regional field are Guilford (N.C.) and Thomas More (Ky.).
Guilford and Thomas More will play in the opening game Friday at 5:30 p.m. (EST) with Calvin and Marietta set to play in game two Friday night at 8 p.m. (EST). The two advancing teams from Friday's first round game will play in the regional final Saturday night at 7 p.m. (EST).
Calvin heads into the NCAA Tournament with a 17-10 record.

NCAA III TOURNAMENT BRACKET: http://www.ncaa.com/interactive-bracket/basketball-men/d3

MORE MEN'S BASKETBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association named Calvin forward Michael Welch its Player of the Week in men's basketball for games played through Feb. 26. Welch helped Calvin win its 12th MIAA Tournament title with victories over Trine and No. 18 Hope.
On Friday, Welch scored 15 points and tallied a season-high 10 rebounds, for his first double-double of the season.
He also played a key role in the upset victory over No. 18 Hope in the championship game on Saturday. Welch shot 70 percent on the night and finished with 15 points. He pulled down five rebounds and recorded a block against the Flying Dutchmen.
This is the first time in his career that he has claimed MIAA Player of the Week honors.
Welch and the Knights return to action on Friday when they play in the First Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

SOFTBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin softball team swept the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association weekly honor for games played through Feb. 26. Anna Gernant earned Pitcher of the Week honors and Rachel Borden claimed Position Player of the Week honors. The Knights posted a 3-1 record at the Finlandia Dome Classic, this past weekend.
"I am really happy for these two," said head coach Becky Hilgert. "We really had a great weekend as a team, with a lot of strong performances. It is nice to see Rachel and Anna get recognized for their achievements."
A sophomore from West Des Moines, Iowa, Gernant is claiming MIAA Pitcher of the week honors for the first time in her career. Gernant broke the school single-game record for strikeouts with 18 against Edgewood on Friday, throwing a no-hitter. She followed that up on Saturday by tying her record with another 18 strikeouts against Lakewood. Gernant is 2-0 on the year with a 1.50 ERA. At the plate, she recorded four hits and runs, with one run batted in.
"Anna did a great job keeping our opponents off balance with her variety of pitches," said Hilgert. "Her no-hitter and record-breaking strikeout performance was something special for all of us to witness. Anna is a fierce competitor and still has more room to grow as a player and I believe she is up to the challenge to take her game even higher."
A sophomore from Edwardsburg, Michigan, Borden is earning MIAA Position Player Week honors for the first time. She leads the team with eight hits and four runs, finishing the weekend with a batting average of .571. Borden also tallied a team-high four stolen bases at the Finlandia Dome Classic. Her three hits against UW-Stevens Point and Carroll ties her career-high at Calvin.
"Rachel had an outstanding weekend at the plate and really sparked us offensively," said Hilgert. "She threw a runner out at home in a key part of the game against UW-Stevens Point which really energized our team. She is so steady in all aspects of the game."
The Knights return to action on March 18 for the first of 10 games in Clermont, Florida.
Received on Mon Feb 27 22:38:08 2017