CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR NOV. 3, 2017
Volleyball Defeats Albion in MIAA Tournament Semifinals - To Face Hope in Saturday Title Tilt;
Anna Kamp Named MIAA Women's Volleyball MVP - Calvin Volleyball Players Land All-MIAA Honors;
Calvin Swimming and Diving Open Calvin Quad
VOLLEYBALL
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The No. 3 ranked Calvin women's volleyball team claimed a 3-0 victory over Albion College in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Friday night. The Knights advance to the MIAA Tournament finals for the 14th straight year, where they will face rival Hope College.
Sophomore Sarah DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northpointe Christian), an All-MIAA First Team honoree, posted a career-high 20 kills to help the Knights earn the sweep.
"The postseason is a really great time to show our intensity and it's a time when we can step up our game," said DeVries. "I don't think our mentality is any different than it has been before, and we will head into these next few games bringing our best."
With the win, the Knights improve to 25-3 overall, while Albion finishes its season at 14-15.
During the regular season, the Knights went 16-0 in MIAA play. Calvin is the first team in MIAA volleyball history to go undefeated for three consecutive years in the regular season.
In the 2017 MIAA preseason coaches' poll, Calvin was picked to finish first while Albion was picked to finish fifth. Friday night's match marked the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Knights went 2-0 against the Britons during the MIAA regular season, sweeping Albion in both matches.
"I'm happy with the result," said head coach Dr. Amber Warners. "We can always play better, but it was a good start to the MIAA Tournament"
Albion went ahead early in the first set, taking a 13-9 lead before Calvin called timeout. Coming out of the break, the Knights allowed one Albion point before going on a four-point run and forcing a Britons timeout. Calvin knotted the game at 17, but the Britons responded by winning the next two points. The Knights pushed back once again, scoring a trio of points off a kill by senior Tessa Van Laare (Toronto, Ontario/Toronto District Christian) and a pair of kills by DeVries. The scoreboard read 20-19 in favor of the Knights when Albion called its second timeout. The Britons earned the next two points to reclaim the lead, but a kill by Van Laare and a timely ace by senior Emily Blankespoor (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian) sparked the Knights to close out the game strong. Despite six service errors, Calvin earned a 25-22 come-from-behind set-one victory.
Calvin carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead before Albion called its first timeout. The Britons scored the first two points, but the Knights quickly responded with a 9-0 run behind the serve of Blankespoor. Albion chipped away at the Knights' lead, making the score 13-9 before Calvin called its first timeout. After the teams exchanged points, the Knights pulled away, once again, thanks to Blankespoor's tough serve. Calvin strung together seven straight points to go up 22-12, courtesy of two service aces, four kills by DeVries and one by junior Anna Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian). The Knights took set two by a score of 25-15.
The Knights went up 7-2 in the third set, but Albion responded with a run of its own to knot the score at eight. Calvin's offense heated up, giving the Knights a 17-12 lead before Albion called timeout. The Britons battled the Knights to split the next seven points, but Calvin finished strong to claim the last five points of the set and match.
Calvin hit .370 in the victory, while Albion swung for a .111 hitting percentage. DeVries hit .600, contributing six digs, two block assists and two assists in addition to her 20 kills. Kamp, named the MIAA Most Valuable Player, followed with 16 kills. Senior first team All-MIAA setter Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian) pumped out 37 assists on the evening, also posting seven digs and five kills. Blankespoor was key for the Knights, finishing with six service aces. Junior libero Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville), an All-MIAA Second Team honoree, added 14 digs and four assists.
"I am very humbled to receive this award because I think so many people deserve to be the MVP," said Kamp. "I'm very grateful to have awesome teammates who make me look good and push me to be my best."
Calvin will play for its sixth MIAA Tournament Championship in the seven seasons. The Knights will face rival Hope College tomorrow at Van Noord Arena. The Flying Dutch defeated Saint Mary's 3-0 in the other MIAA Tournament semifinal match on Friday night. Calvin holds a 2-0 advantage over Hope this season. Saturday's match is set for 4:30 p.m.
MORE VOLLEYBALL
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - For the eighth-straight year, a Calvin volleyball player was named the MIAA volleyball MVP. The Knights recorded five All-MIAA selections, including three on the first team. The Knights finished 16-0 for an MIAA record third-straight season.
"We feel really honored to be honored by the coaches in the conference," said head coach Amber Warners. "There are a lot of quality players in the conference and I am really proud of what are players were able to accomplish so far this season. I am really happy for our players that were honored, they are really deserving of the honors."
Anna Kamp, a junior from Orland Park, Illinois was named the MIAA's Most Valuable Player in volleyball. Kamp led the MIAA in kills-per-set at 4.45, kills at 227, and points at 247.5. Kamp was also named to the All-MIAA first team. Kamp has been an All-MIAA selection for three-straight year with being on the All-MIAA First Team for the past two seasons.
Jenna Lodewyk, a senior from Villa Park, Illinois, received All-MIAA first team honors on Friday. Lodewyk led the MIAA in hitting percentage at .434 and in assists per set at 10.43. She has been named to the All-MIAA first team all four years.
Sarah DeVries, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, Michigan, DeVrieswas named to the All-MIAA First Team for the first time in her career; she earned All-MIAA Second Team honors in 2016. DeVries is second in the MIAA in kills per set at 3.41, attack percentage at .342 and points at 220.5.
Keilahna Castillo, a junior from Grandville, Michigan, Castillo was named to the All-MIAA second team for the third-straight season. Castillo recorded a team-leading 173 digs in MIAA play. She is fifth in the MIAA in service aces per set at .47 and in service aces at 24.
Tessa Van Laare, a senior from Toronto, Ontario, Van Laare is earning All-MIAA Second Team honors for the first time in her career. Van Laare is 10th in the MIAA in hitting percentage at .262. She also notched 106 kills and 15 blocks in MIAA play.
2017 Volleyball All-MIAA First Team
Paige Baker, Hope
Rachel Bonek, Saint Mary's
Marielle Corbett, Saint Mary's
Sarah DeVries, Calvin
Sophie Hackett, Hope
Anna Kamp, Calvin
Jenna Lodewyk, Calvin
Monica Shuk, Albion
2017 Volleyball All-MIAA Second Team
Keilahna Castillo, Calvin
Haley Muller, Hope
Katie Rietberg, Hope
Taylor Rosenthal, Albion
Shannon Scott, Trine
Audrey Shannon, Saint Mary's
Tessa Van Laare, Calvin
Grace VanDorn, Albion
2017 MIAA Volleyball Most Valuable Player
Anna Kamp, Calvin
2017 MIAA Volleyball Defensive Player of the Year
Monica Shuk, Albion
2017 MIAA Volleyball Freshman of the Year
Marielle Corbett, Saint Mary's
WOMEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin women's swimming & diving team opened the Calvin quad on Friday evening with Albion, Carthage and Ohio Northern. The Knights recorded three victories on Friday. The Knights lead with 314 points, Carthage is in second place at 239 points.
Calvin opened the evening with a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of sophomore Emily Gunderson (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer), Rachel Mattson, freshman Hannah Chao (Farmington Hills, Mich./North Farmington), and senior Abby Van Harn (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) finished at 1:39.00.
The Knights went 1-2-3 in the 500-yard freestyle for the first victory of the evening. Junior Anna Serino (Pinckney, Mich./Pinckney) led the way at 5:18.12 to win. In second place was junior Kendall Murphy (Modesto, Calif./Home School) at 5:20.91 and junior Madelyn Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) in third place at 5:25.10.
Hannah Chao was the fastest Knight in the 200-yard I.M. in third place at 2:16.30.
Abby Van Harn flexed her muscles again in the 50-yard freestyle with a first-place finish at 23.99.
The Knights owned the 3-meter boards on Friday. Senior Sarah Bradley (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) recorded a NCAA Regional qualifying score of 427.90 to finish in first place. Freshman Joselyn Smith (Zeeland, Mich./Zeeland West) was in second place at 363.55.
The Maroon and Gold closed the evening with a third-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Hannah Chao, freshman Kelly Makela (Boise, Idaho/Boise), Emily Gunderson, and Abby Van Harn clocked in at 4:10.47.
The Knights return to action on Saturday morning for the final day of the Calvin Quad.
MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Calvin men's swimming & diving team opened the Calvin quad on Friday evening with Albion, Carthage and Ohio Northern. The Knights posted two victories on Friday. The Knights are currently in second place with 294.5 points, 2.5 points behind Carthage.
The Maroon and Gold recorded the two fastest times in the 200-yard freestyle relay to open the evening. The team of junior Ben Holstege (Keswick, Va./Covenant), junior Nathan Olberding (Noblesville, Ind./Noblesville), senior Max DeYoung (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) and junior Jared Britton (Falls Church, Va./George Mason) clocked in at 1:25.80. Sailing in at second place was sophomore Tristan Hazlett (Lutz, Fla./Home School), freshman Julian Iturbe (Caracas, Venezuela/Colegio Emil Friedman), junior Skyler Fish (Ionia, Mich./Ionia) and junior Jacob Lensing (Pella, Iowa/Pella Christian) at 1:26.85.
The Knights continued their winning way in the 500-yard freestyle. Julian Iturbe was the first swimmer to the wall at 4:46.62. Sophomore Tim Randall (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) finished in second place at 4:53.41.
Ben Holstege was the fastest Knight in the 200-yard I.M. in fifth place at 1:59.33.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Jared Britton recorded a fourth-place finish at 21.95.
Senior Michael Moentmann (Solon, Ohio/Solon) placed second on the one-meter board on Friday at 406.25.
The Knights closed the night with a second-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Ben Holstege, sophomore Fear Churchwell (Athens, Ga./Clarke Central), Jared Britton, and Max DeYoung finished at 3:32.34.
The Knights return to action on Saturday morning for the final day of the Calvin Quad.
Received on Fri Nov 3 23:28:44 2017
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