ALBION, Mich. - The fourth-ranked Calvin women's volleyball team was given a scare by a young and talented Albion squad Friday night at Kresge Gymnasium. Calvin prevailed in four sets over the host Britons but not without a fight as the Knights won by scores of 25-16, 20-25, 28-26, 25-23.

Calvin is now 23-3 overall and 13-0 in the MIAA.

After breezing through set one, Calvin found itself on its heels in set two as the Britons built a 19-11 lead. Calvin closed to within four at 21-17 but could get no closer as Albion hit .321 in the set. Calvin also committed four service errors in the set, a trait that would continue to dog the Knights throughout the match.

Set three proved to be a nip-and-tuck affair. The Knights grabbed their first lead at 21-20 and later had five set points including a pair at 24-22. Calvin could not put Albion away until a kill by junior Laura Danhoff (Willard, Ohio/Willard) gave the Knights the win at 28-26. 

In set four, Calvin grabbed the early momentum with a 9-4 lead but Albion continued to cling within striking distance. Kills by senior Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian) and Danhoff gave Calvin a 23-20 lead but Albion used a Calvin service error and a pair of service aces by Monica Shuk to tie the set at 23. 

The Knights were able to punch back with a kill by Kamp and then closed out the match as an Albion attack attempt sailed just beyond the end line.

"Albion is a scary team to play against," said Calvin women's volleyball coach Amber Warners. "They are young but they are also very talented and they play with energy in their own gym. We did not play our best tonight but I think Albion had something to do with that so a credit to them. We'll take the win though and build from there."

Calvin was led by Maggie Kamp with 18 kills while Danhoff had 17 kills. Sophomore Tessa VanLaare (Toronto, Ont./Toronto District Christian High School amassed nine kills while sophomore setter Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian) had 49 assists and seven digs.

Freshman Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville) had 18 digs for Calvin while sophomore Emily Blankespoor (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian) had 13 digs and three service aces.

As a team, Calvin committed 16 service errors, marking its second-highest single-match total of the season including its highest in a four-set match this fall.

Calvin returns to action on Saturday when it hosts Alma at 1 p.m. in a conference match at VanNoord Arena.