CKSR (Volleyball and Men's Soccer Pegged as MIAA Preseason Favorites / Women's Soccer Picked Third in Preseason Poll)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR AUGUST 24, 2017

Volleyball and Men's Soccer Pegged as MIAA Preseason Favorites / Women's Soccer Picked Third in Preseason Poll

VOLLEYBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin volleyball team has been picked to repeat as MIAA champions. The Knights received eight first place votes in the MIAA Coaches' poll released this afternoon. Hope received the other first place vote and was pegged to finish second with Adrian third and Saint Mary's fourth.
"We are thankful for this honor," said head coach Dr. Amber Warners. "There are a lot of quality teams in the MIAA again this year. We know that every match will be tough and that we will need to bring our best every time that we walk onto the court."
Calvin has won at least a share of the last seven MIAA regular season titles. In 2016, the Knights raced through a 16-0 MIAA campaign and then captured program's third national title. The Knights finished the year with a 33-1 record.
The Maroon and Gold return four All-MIAA players from the 2016 team. Senior Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian) and junior Anna Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian) earned All-MIAA First Team honors in 2016. Sophomore Sarah DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northpointe Christian) was the 2016 MIAA Freshman of the Year and was named to the All-MIAA Second Team and junior Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville) was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year in 2016 and was named to the All-MIAA Second Team.
Calvin is scheduled to open its season on Sept. 1 in Texas at the Trinity National Invitational.
The Knights will open their MIAA campaign on Sept. 6 at home against Olivet.
2017 MIAA Preseason Poll
1. Calvin - 64 points (8 first-place votes)
2. Hope - 55 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Adrian - 49 points
4. Saint Mary's - 45 points
5. Albion - 34 points
6. Alma - 32 points
7. Trine - 19 points
8. Olivet - 17 points
9. Kalamazoo - 9 points
MEN'S SOCCER

The Calvin men's soccer team has been picked to repeat as league champions in the MIAA preseason coaches poll released this afternoon.

Calvin was a consensus pick to finish first as the Knights received seven first place votes with Alma receiving the other first place vote. Coaches can not vote for their own team.

Calvin (7 points) was followed in the poll by Alma (14 points). Adrian was picked third (18 points), Kalamazoo fourth (28 points), Albion fifth (30 points), Hope sixth (36 points), Olivet seventh (45 points) and Trine eighth (46 points).

Calvin enters the season as the 10-time defending MIAA regular season champion. The streak is the longest in MIAA men's soccer history.

The Knights enter the season ranked second nationally in the Division III United Soccer Coaches poll. A year ago, Calvin finished 23-3-0 overall and reached the NCAA III Championship final for the third time in six years. Calvin captured the MIAA regular season title with a 13-1-0 conference record and then won the MIAA Tournament title for the third straight year, defeating Albion 7-1 in the tournament semifinals and Alma 4-2 in the championship final.

The Knights return eight letterwinners that received either first or second team All-MIAA honors in 2016.

Calvin is scheduled to open its season on September 1 when it hosts Ohio Wesleyan University 4:30 p.m.

The Knights will open their double round-robin league campaign on September 13 when it travels to Trine University for a 4 p.m. match.

1. Calvin 7 points (7 first-place votes)
2. Alma 14 points (1 first-place vote)
3. Adrian 18 points
4. Kalamazoo 28 points
5. Albion 30 points
6. Hope 36 points
7. Olivet 45 points
8. Trine 46 points

WOMEN'S SOCCER

The Calvin women's soccer team has been picked to finish third in the MIAA preseason coaches poll released this afternoon.

Calvin was one of five teams in the poll to receive at least one first place vote. Defending MIAA champion Hope received four first place votes and tops the poll with 54 points with Albion second, Calvin third and Kalamazoo fourth. Albion and Calvin both received one first place vote while Kalamazoo received two. Trine, picked seventh in the poll, also received one first place vote.

Adrian and Alma meanwhile were tied for fifth with Olivet picked eighth and Saint Mary's ninth.

"I think the fact that five different teams have received a first place vote indicates that our league will be very competitive and exciting this fall," said Calvin women's soccer coach Mark Recker. "Teams that have been lower in the league table are building and I do not think any game will be an easy one. We are eagerly looking forward to the season and the challenges that lie ahead."

A year ago Calvin finished 11-9-1 overall and in fourth place in the MIAA with a 10-5-1 conference record. The Knights reached the MIAA Tournament before bowing to rival Hope in the tournament semifinals.

The Knights return several letterwinners from last year's team including junior defender Kali Mouw (Avon, N.Y./Avon Central HS) who was an All-MIAA second team selection in 2016.

Calvin is scheduled to open its season on September 1 and 2 at a weekend tournament hosted by Milwaukee School of Engineering. The Knights will face Lake Forest College September 1 and MSOE on September 2.

1. Hope 54 points (4 first-place votes)
2. Albion 49 (1)
3. Calvin 46 (1)
4. Kalamazoo 40 (2)
T5. Adrian 36
T5. Alma 36
7. Trine 29 (1)
8. Olivet 23
9. Saint Mary's 11
Received on Thu Aug 24 22:42:34 2017