CKSR (Women's Tennis Blanks Alma for Conference Win / Calvin Spring Sports Athletes Receive MIAA Player of the Week Honors / Calvin Student-Athletes Featured as Part of D3 Week Coverage)

CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR APRIL 2, 2018

Women's Tennis Blanks Alma for Conference Win;
Calvin Spring Sports Athletes Receive MIAA Player/Athlete of the Week Honors;
Calvin Student-Athletes Featured as Part of Division III Week Coverage

WOMEN'S TENNIS
Calvin 9, Alma 0

ALMA, Mich. – The Calvin women's tennis team made quick work of Alma on Monday afternoon. The Knights swept the Scots, 9-0. The victory propels Calvin to 8-5 on the year and 1-1 in the MIAA. Alma falls to 3-9 on the year and 0-2 in MIAA action.

"I am proud of how the team responded today," said Calvin head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "Today was a quick turnaround and we did not have much time to prepare. The team did a great job today."

The duo of senior Lark Foote (Okemos, Mich./Home School) and sophomore Anna Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) crushed Maty Ennis and Caroline Ross at No. 2 doubles, 8-1.
The freshman team of Leah Newhof (Caledonia, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) and Madeline Brouwer (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) bounced Brooke Butterfield and Lucy McCarthy at No. 1 doubles, 8-1.

At No. 3 doubles, sophomore Brittney Statema (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) and freshman Alexis Bonner sank Jessica Penhale and Berni Garibay, 8-2.

Anna Asfour claimed the first point in singles play at No. 3 singles. Asfour swept Maty Ennis, 6-0, 6-0.
Madeline Brouwer brought out the broom at No. 2 singles, sweeping Caroline Ross, 6-0, 6-0.
Lark Foote finished off Lucy McCarthy at No. 4 singles, 6-4, 6-0.

Alexis Bonner broke Jessica Penhale at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-4.

Brittney Statema shot down Berni Garibay at No. 6 singles, 6-2, 6-2.

Leah Newhof put the final nail in the coffin with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Brooke Butterfield at No. 1 singles.
The Knights look to keep things rolling on Saturday at Olivet.

MEN'S LACROSSE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Michael Winkler was named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week in men's lacrosse on Monday afternoon. He is the third Calvin men's lacrosse player to claim MIAA weekly honors this year and the first on offense. Winkler helped the Knights defeat Wabash on Saturday, 10-7.

"Michael was the heart and soul of our offense on Saturday," said head coach Dave Hoger. "He put the team on his back and elevated everyone's level of play. The four goals he scored are only a part of the story. His defense, riding and toughness on ground balls were the spark that we needed to come out on top. His leadership was exactly what our team needed and it showed up at a great time in the season."

A senior from La Quinta, California, Winkler is claiming the honor for the first time in his career.
Against Wabash, Winkler tallied four goals on eight shots on goal. He also had four ground balls and caused two turnovers.

Winkler and the Knights return to action on Saturday at Albion.

MEN'S TENNIS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – David Brown picked up Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Athlete of the Week honors on Monday for matches through April 1. This is the first time this year and the second time in his career that Brown has claimed the honor.

"I am very happy for David," said Calvin head coach John Ross. "He is very deserving of this honor. I thought that he played really well last. He has worked really hard this year and it is great to his hard work get rewarded."
A senior from Lake Zurich, Illinois, Brown posted a perfect 2-0 record in singles play at No. 4 singles. He opened the week with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Spring Arbor's Jonah Engle. He then opened MIAA play with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Tristen Fox of Alma.

In doubles competition, Brown and Rodrigo Castellanos Vaca Guzmán went 2-0 at No. 2 doubles. The duo down Spring Arbor's Reinbold and MacLean, 8-6. They also sank the Scots' Ackerman and Fox, 8-2.
Brown and the Knights are back in action on Wednesday against arch-rival Hope.

SOFTBALL

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin softball team claimed both of the MIAA weekly honors on Monday afternoon. Calvin is coming off a 4-0 week, where the Knights swept Anderson and Adrian. The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association named Grace Stock the Co-MIAA Player of the Week and Anna Gernant the MIAA Pitcher of the Week for their performances against Anderson and Adrian, last week. This is the first time that Calvin has swept the weekly honors since March 18, 2017, when Rachel Borden and Anna Gernant claimed the weekly accolades.

"This is a nice honor for Grace, Anna and our team," said Calvin head coach Becky Hilgert. "We played very well in all three aspects of the game last week. Grace was really locked in at the plate and propelled our offense from the third spot. She also did a nice job behind the plate keep runners at bay and controlling the pace of the game with our pitchers. Anna had two solid outings in the circle. She did a good job of attacking opposing hitters and our defense made plays behind her. "

A freshman from Vicksburg, Michigan, Grace Stock is claiming the honor for the first time in her career.
She had a phenomenal week at the plate, with 10 hits at 11 at bats. Stock finished the week with a slugging percentage of 1.636 and led Calvin with 10 hits, three doubles, one triple, one home run, six runs and 10 RBI.
Stock led the Knights in game one of the Anderson series with two singles and a home run.

A junior from West Des Moines, Iowa, Anna Gernant is claiming MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season and third time in her career.
Gernant started the week with six strikeouts against Anderson. She also helped her own effort with a home run.

Against Adrian, Anna Gernant tallied nine strikeouts in the victory. Gernant also threw her first no-hitter of the season on Friday and the third of her career.

The Knights are scheduled to return to action on Tuesday at Saint Mary's

DIVISION III WEEK FEATURE STORY UPDATE

Calvin is one of more than 400 Divison III school's nationwide celebrating the annual NCAA Division III Week. As part of the celebration, Calvin is highlighting its student-athletes with feature stories and videos.

For a feature story on Becca Richards of the Calvin women's basketball team, visit the Calvin website at: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__calvinknights.com_sports_wbkb_2017-2D18_releases_20180401yk6g8x&d=DwIF-g&c=4rZ6NPIETe-LE5i2KBR4rw&r=5aYEzXF7nc6LZSmi__PTAKGUps4SiBVbwUKLqa54NW8&m=oFo9vSKgfU2tJDm0G4dksweorT5vQKkAgRACIc4DIBM&s=bMe4I4TO9mwg50aSxL1CGComK-WeYXdHYWNwPMcjY_E&e=
For a video feature on Megan VanSolkema of the Calvin women's volleyball team visit the Calvin website at: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__calvinknights.com_sports_wvball_2017-2D18_releases_20180402iasbsh&d=DwIF-g&c=4rZ6NPIETe-LE5i2KBR4rw&r=5aYEzXF7nc6LZSmi__PTAKGUps4SiBVbwUKLqa54NW8&m=oFo9vSKgfU2tJDm0G4dksweorT5vQKkAgRACIc4DIBM&s=Y8zP3yN_2ojFPCMq2X1jX6WUjR45f2AiSntBcMRCrnw&e=
Received on Mon Apr 2 21:12:14 2018