SPRINGFIELD, OH - Playing with a reshuffled lineup, the top-ranked Calvin volleyball team dropped its first two matches of the year on Friday night, dropping a three-set match to ninth-ranked Wittenberg and a four-set match to 10th-ranked Washington University of St. Louis. Both matches were played at the Wittenberg Fall Classic.

Calvin opened the day with a 25-17, 25-15, 25-16 loss to Wittenberg. Calvin kept early contact with the host Tigers but began to slip away late. Wittenberg held a 22-17 lead and scored the final three points. Wittenberg (6-2) carried that momentum into sets two and three and never looked back.

Calvin hit just .205 as a team in the loss while Wittenberg hit at a .348 clip. Junior Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian HS) had 11 kills, sophomore Laura Danhoff (Willard, OH/Willard HS) eight kills and freshman Tessa VanLaare (Toronto, ON/Toronto District Christian HS) seven kills.

Freshman Megan VanSolkema (Escondido, CA/Escondido Calvin Christian HS) had 13 assists and junior Jamie Kooiman (Eugene, OR/South Eugene HS) 10 assists.

Calvin had just three blocks in the loss and also committed 10 service errors.

The Knights then came back with a gritty effort in a 26-24, 25-15, 21-25, 28-26 loss to Washington University of St. Louis.

In set four, Calvin had set points at 24-23 and 25-24 but could not gain the final point needed.

Danhoff racked up a season-high 17 kills while Maggie Kamp had 12 kills. VanLaare had eight kills. Kooiman had 25 assists and 10 digs and VanSolkema 14 assists and nine digs. Senior Elise Biesboer (Elmhurst, IL/Timothy Christian HS) had 12 digs.

Calvin returns to action on Saturday with matches against Ohio Northern and Otterbein.