Box Score By Gina de Haan
On Saturday afternoon at DeVos Fieldhouse, Calvin College women's volleyball team took on the Hope College Flying Dutch, the defending MIAA champions, for the third time this season; this time the rival teams were competing for the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament crown.
For the sixth time in league history, Calvin defeated Hope in five sets for the MIAA championship (25-17, 23-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-8). This MIAA Tournament title is Calvin's fourth consecutive, 11th overall, and the ninth under current head coach
Amber Warners.
In the first set of the match, the Flying Dutch took an early lead, but Calvin chipped away and pulled ahead after a pair of service aces from freshmen defensive specialist Emily Blankespoor (Grand Rapids/South Christian HS). The two teams went back-and-forth, trading points, but with the game tied 14-14, Calvin pulled away, going on a 4-point run courtesy of a kill by sophomore Laura Danhoff (Willard, OH/Willard HS) followed by two kills and a block by Emily Crowe (Granger IN/Mishawaka Penn). Senior Ellie Diepersloot (Madera, CA/Chowchilla) contributed to the Knights' lead with three kills late in the set, helping the team record a 25-17 first set victory.
Despite a strong second set start by Calvin, the Flying Dutch led the visitors for the majority of the second set. The Knights couldn't stop Jenna Grasmeyer who tallied six kills in the set, carrying her team offensively. Calvin put pressure on the home team late in the contest, bringing the score to 23-21 after an ace from setter
Jenna Lodewyk (Villa, Park, IL/Timothy Christian) and a kill by Danhoff. In an attempt to stop the Knights' momentum, Hope head coach Becky Schmidt called a timeout. Following the break, Danhoff put down another kill and
Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian) served an ace, narrowing Hope's lead down to 24-23. However, Calvin's rally came too late in the set as the Knights ran out of points to give. Hope would claim set two 25-23.
In the third set the Flying Dutch took an early lead; Anna Lynch and Lauren Hazekamp had two kills apiece, giving Hope a 6-3 advantage. The Knights couldn't find a rhythm and trailed the Flying Dutch for the remainder of the set. Hope's lead was cut to three (19-16) after they made a few offensive errors, but once again, the Knights' comeback was short-lived. Hope finished strong and defeated the Knights 25-19, giving themselves a two-set-to-one lead over their rival.
In the fourth set, the Knights came out with more energy and urgency, unwilling to hand over the MIAA title. Although Hope took an early lead over the home team, the Knights were able to answer as Maggie Kamp found her groove. With the set tied at 4, Laura Danhoff put down a kill to give Calvin a lead that they would maintain throughout the remainder of the set. With the help of a spirited away crowd, Calvin finished strong with a 25-17 victory, forcing another set.
For the third straight year, Calvin and Hope headed to fifth set to decide who would claim the MIAA title.
Once again, the Knights came out strong. Finding their rhythm, the Knights established a nice lead, fueled by a kill and ace by Maggie Kamp; the junior's consecutive points put the Knights up 5-3. The Knights didn't give up their advantage for the remainder of the set. Laura Danhoff and Stacey Kamp gave their team a larger cushion as the Knights earned five consecutive points; Danhoff logged a kill and an ace while Kamp added two kills, extending the Knights' lead to 10-4. A four-point rally, finalized by a kill from Maggie Kamp, would seal the deal for Calvin, the scoreboard reading 15-8 in their favor.
Calvin is now 6-0 against Hope in five-set matches in the MIAA Tournament final.
Junior outside hitter Maggie Kamp led the Knights with 22 kills and 16 digs. After her stellar all-around performance, she was awarded the MIAA Most Valuable Player award.
The high stakes of a championship game between long-time rivals forced Kamp, and the rest of the Knights, to be mentally tough. When asked how she is able to perform under high pressure, Kamp says she focuses on "staying in her own bubble." "That's something we talk a lot about that as a team," said Kamp. "Especially with the crazy atmosphere and everything else going on around us. Just to stay in the team, to be confident in everything you do, to just love being on the edge, to go for every point, and to not let up."
Freshman setter Jenna Lodewyk also had an impressive match, dishing out 47 assists and also contributing four kills and six digs. Lodewyk was named the 2014 MIAA Freshman of the Year.
Calvin hit .318 for the match while the Flying Dutch hit .182. Laura Danhoff was second in kills for the Knights (behind Maggie Kamp) with 14, followed by Emily Crowe and Ellie Diepersloot who each put down 10.
The Knights were able to come out on top despite their 15 service errors.
Senior outside hitter Jenna Grasmeyer led Hope with 16 kills, followed by her senior teammate Anna Lynch who had 10. Setter Lauren Hazekamp had 35 assists. MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, Hope junior Allie Mitchell, dug up 11 balls.
Calvin women's head volleyball coach
Amber Warners reflected on the spirited match, expressing her love for good competition, but also reminding herself that it's just a game. "The atmosphere is awesome and the support in the community is incredible," Warners says. "I wish I could, as a coach, sit on the outside and look in, because it's very difficult to see the big picture when you're in the middle."
"I really am proud of my players for how much they fought, even when it didn't look good," said Warners. "We knew coming into this year with a new setter we needed to fine-tune a lot of things and get in flow with things, and we just keep wanting to improve everyday."
Tonight, the hard work of Coach Warners and her team paid off, earning them a league title, but they know their journey isn't over yet. The Knights, now 27-3, advance the NCAA III Tournament for the 11th consecutive year with hopes of defending their national title. Calvin will await its NCAA III Tournament placement when the pairings are announced on Monday morning at 11 a.m. (EST).
