Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The No. 3 ranked Calvin women's volleyball team claimed a 3-0 victory over Albion College in the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Friday night. The Knights advance to the MIAA Tournament finals for the 14th straight year, where they will face rival Hope College.
Sophomore Sarah DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northpointe Christian), an All-MIAA First Team honoree, posted a career-high 20 kills to help the Knights earn the sweep.
"The postseason is a really great time to show our intensity and it's a time when we can step up our game," said DeVries. "I don't think our mentality is any different than it has been before, and we will head into these next few games bringing our best."
With the win, the Knights improve to 25-3 overall, while Albion finishes its season at 14-15.
During the regular season, the Knights went 16-0 in MIAA play. Calvin is the first team in MIAA volleyball history to go undefeated for three consecutive years in the regular season.
In the 2017 MIAA preseason coaches' poll, Calvin was picked to finish first while Albion was picked to finish fifth. Friday night's match marked the third meeting between the two teams this season. The Knights went 2-0 against the Britons during the MIAA regular season, sweeping Albion in both matches.
"I'm happy with the result," said head coach Dr. Amber Warners. "We can always play better, but it was a good start to the MIAA Tournament"
Albion went ahead early in the first set, taking a 13-9 lead before Calvin called timeout. Coming out of the break, the Knights allowed one Albion point before going on a four-point run and forcing a Britons timeout. Calvin knotted the game at 17, but the Britons responded by winning the next two points. The Knights pushed back once again, scoring a trio of points off a kill by senior Tessa Van Laare (Toronto, Ontario/Toronto District Christian) and a pair of kills by DeVries. The scoreboard read 20-19 in favor of the Knights when Albion called its second timeout. The Britons earned the next two points to reclaim the lead, but a kill by Van Laare and a timely ace by senior Emily Blankespoor (Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian) sparked the Knights to close out the game strong. Despite six service errors, Calvin earned a 25-22 come-from-behind set-one victory.
Calvin carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead before Albion called its first timeout. The Britons scored the first two points, but the Knights quickly responded with a 9-0 run behind the serve of Blankespoor. Albion chipped away at the Knights' lead, making the score 13-9 before Calvin called its first timeout. After the teams exchanged points, the Knights pulled away, once again, thanks to Blankespoor's tough serve. Calvin strung together seven straight points to go up 22-12, courtesy of two service aces, four kills by DeVries and one by junior Anna Kamp (Orland Park, Ill./Chicago Christian). The Knights took set two by a score of 25-15.
The Knights went up 7-2 in the third set, but Albion responded with a run of its own to knot the score at eight. Calvin's offense heated up, giving the Knights a 17-12 lead before Albion called timeout. The Britons battled the Knights to split the next seven points, but Calvin finished strong to claim the last five points of the set and match.
Calvin hit .370 in the victory, while Albion swung for a .111 hitting percentage. DeVries hit .600, contributing six digs, two block assists and two assists in addition to her 20 kills. Kamp, named the MIAA Most Valuable Player, followed with 16 kills. Senior first team All-MIAA setter Jenna Lodewyk (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian) pumped out 37 assists on the evening, also posting seven digs and five kills. Blankespoor was key for the Knights, finishing with six service aces. Junior libero Keilahna Castillo (Grandville, Mich./Grandville), an All-MIAA Second Team honoree, added 14 digs and four assists.
"I am very humbled to receive this award because I think so many people deserve to be the MVP," said Kamp. "I'm very grateful to have awesome teammates who make me look good and push me to be my best."
Calvin will play for its sixth MIAA Tournament Championship in the seven seasons. The Knights will face rival Hope College tomorrow at Van Noord Arena. The Flying Dutch defeated Saint Mary's 3-0 in the other MIAA Tournament semifinal match on Friday night. Calvin holds a 2-0 advantage over Hope this season. Saturday's match is set for 4:30 p.m.
