VOLLEYBALL
The Calvin women's volleyball team has risen to the top spot in the AVCA Division III Top 25 rankings. The Knights moved into the top spot yesterday afternoon when the AVCA released its updated national poll. Calvin had previously been ranked second behind defending national champion Emory but moved up after the Eagles were defeated by now third-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps last weekend.
Calvin is off to a 9-0 start after three victories last weekend at the Messiah Invitational. The Knights are gearing up for a big non-conference matchup this evening at sixth-ranked Chicago. That match is set to begin at 6 p.m. (CDT).
The Calvin/Chicago matchup will feature a video broadcast at: https://www.youtube.com/chicagomaroons/ and live stats at: https://www.calvinknights.com/sports/wvball/2019-20/boxscores/20190918_a2zc.xml
The most recent AVCA Division III Top 25 poll can be found online at: https://www.avca.org/polls/diii-women/9-17-2019.html
MORE VOLLEYBALL
Calvin College senior Sarah DeVries has been named the MIAA's Specialty Player of the Week in women's volleyball.
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Northpointe Christian High School, DeVries helped lead the second-ranked Knights to victories over Messiah, Christopher Newport and Cabrini last weekend at the Messiah Invitational.
Over the course of the weekend, DeVries hit at a .412 clip while averaging 5.10 kills-per-set. She also handed out 4.10 assists-per-set in Calvin's 6-2 offensive attack while averaging 2.0 digs and 1.3 blocks-per-set.
In addition she had one service ace and averaged 5.85 points-per-set for the Knights who improved to 9-0 on the season with the weekend sweep.
In a four-set win over Christopher Newport on Saturday, she just missed a triple-double with 22 kills, 16 asissts and nine digs to go with four block assists.
She is currently ranked eighth nationally in points-per-set (5.02) and hitting percentage (.438). She also ranks 15th in kills-per-set (4.24).
DeVries and her Calvin teammates are back in action on Wednesday when the Knights travel to eighth-ranked Chicago for a 6 p.m. (CDT) match.
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 2, Cornerstone 0
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin took home a 2-0 win at East Beltline rival Cornerstone Tuesday night.
Calvin (1-5-1) outshot Cornerstone (5-1-0) by a 6-4 margin in the first half but did not find the back of the net.
Playing with energy, the Knights continued to pick up the tempo in the second half and broke through for goal in the 48th minute. Freshman Emma Thompson (Whitehall, Mich./Whitehall HS) collected a pass from the wing from junior Grace Visser (Coopersville, Mich./Unity Christian HS) and whipped a shot in from the box. The goal was the first of Thompson's collegiate career.
Visser provided the ignition on Calvin's second goal as she curled a pass into the box in the 55th minute that junior Jessica Paulson (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth Christian HS) pounced on and redirected into the net to give the Knights a 2-0 advantage.
Calvin continued to pressure with a series of shots and corner kicks over the final 25 minutes - en route to sealing its first victory of the season.
Calvin finished with a 12-5 shots at goal advantage.
Junior goalkeeper Amy Kliewer (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern HS) came up with a pair of saves in goal for the Maroon and Gold.
NEXT UP: Calvin will host North Central (Il.) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Zuidema Field.
MEN'S SOCCER
Calvin 3, Aquinas 2 (OT)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin men's soccer team defeated Aquinas College in a 3-2 overtime battle on Tuesday evening at Zuidema Field.
The Saints struck first in the 29th minute to take the 1-0 lead over the Knights.
With about five minutes left to go in the first half the Knights got a brilliant chance off a corner kick with a shot on goal from senior Ian Adams(Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian), which was deflected and left senior Jacob Lyon (Holt, Mich. / Lansing Christian) with an easy shot right in front of the net. However, the offside flag was up, and the Knights were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.
As the half closed out, the Saints held their 1-0 lead.
Aquinas stretched its lead 2-0 in the 61st minute.
Senior Hunter Olson (Canton, Mich. / Canton) punched one in off a throw in by freshman Justin Wojcik (Canton, Mich. / Plymouth) and junior Drew Van Andel's(Grand Haven, Mich. / Grand Haven) deflection to get the Knights on the board.
The Knights tied things back up in the 85th minute with a header from Van Andel off a corner kick from senior Dillon Weldy (Grand Rapids, Mich. / Grand Rapids Christian).
Regulation play ended with the game still tied as the teams headed into overtime.
With about three minutes into overtime, Van Andel finished the game with a header off a corner kick from Weldy.
Calvin outshot Aquinas 26-14.
Head coach Ryan Souders stated, "Such great resolve from every one of our guys. We are so proudof their fight, effort and investment; result aside. That said, it was really great to that rewarded with three points."
The Knights return to action this weekend as they take on Carthage Friday at 7 p.m. followed by Greenville on Saturday at 5 p.m.
WOMEN'S GOLF
ALMA, Mich. - Calvin opened its 2019 MIAA campaign by placing fifth at the opening MIAA Jamboree Tournament hosted by Alma at the Pine River Country Club.
Calvin posted a team score of 342 strokes, four strokes behind fourth place Trine and two strokes ahead of sixth place Olivet.
Junior Linnea McDonnough (Pentwater, Mich./Pentwater HS)and sophomore tied for 12th place individually in the tournament with rounds of 83. Freshman Jericha Scharphorn (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville HS) had an 87 to tie for 25th. Junior Mereidth Bult (Wheaton, Il./Wheaton Academy HS) and sophomore Kaylee Hirschman (Grand Ledge, Mich./Grand Ledge HS) tied for 30th with rounds of 89. Saint Mary's took first place as a team with a score of 312. Hunter Kehoe and Summer Stillson of Saint Mary's shared medalist honors with rounds of 74.
Calvin is back in action next Saturday at the Hope/Calvin Invitational at the Railside Country Club in Byron Center.
MEN'S GOLF
JACKSON, Mich. - Calvin finished eighth at the two-day 36-hole Irish Hills Invitational at the Grande Golf Club. Calvin posted a two-day tournament total of 640 strokes. After shooting 327 on Friday, Calvin came back with a team score of 313 on Saturday.
Junior Sam Holland (Novi, Mich./Detroit Catholic Central HS) finished at 156 (80-76) to finish in a 19th place individually. Sophomore Kasen Anderson (Stillwater, Mn./St. Croix Preparatory HS) had back-to-back rounds of 80 to finish tied for 30th place individually.
Freshman Jacob Siebenga (Surrey, B.C.) had an 83 and a 78 to finish at 161 and tied for 35th.
Junior Joshua Lansky (Park City, UT/Park City HS) tied for 41st, firing rounds of 84 and 79. Senior Josh Umlauf (Lowell, Ind./Hanover Central HS) finished tied for 56th with back-to-back rounds of 84.
Kenyon took first place team honors with a final 36-hole total of 589 (299-290).
Eric Lifson of Kenyon was the tournament medalist with a final score of 142 (73-69).
Calvin returns to action on September 21 when it competes at an MIAA Tournament hosted by Alma at the Pine River Country Club
at 1 p.m.
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
For the second time in his collegiate career, Calvin College junior Jonathan Ellis has been named the MIAA Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Ellis Jonathan Ellis placed 11th individually and ninth among collegiate competitors Sept. 13 at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational. A graduate of Towson High School, Ellis ran the 8K course in 25:19 as the top NCAA Division III runner. Ellis helped the 11th-ranked Knights finish fifth in a field of 23 teams with 138 points.
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
For the first time in her collegiate career, Calvin College senior Michelle Koetje has been named the MIAA Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week.
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School Koetje placed 26th at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational on Friday with a 6K time of 22:37 as the top NCAA Division III competitor. Calvin, the the only Division III school at the event, finished 12th as a team with 341 points.
