Calvin remained in the MIAA title chase with a 30-25, 28-30, 30-22, 30-19 
victory over rival Hope Wednesday evening at the Calvin Fieldhouse in front of 
more than 400 fans. 

Calvin (14-5 overall, 6-1 MIAA) took the early momentum but Hope (8-10 overall, 
3-4 MIAA) battled back with strong front-row play in game two to even the score 
at 1-1. 

In game three, sophomore Kathy Brenneman (North Muskegon HS) began to assert 
herself offensively, allowing the Knights to pull away for the win. Brenneman 
helped key a 5-0 Calvin run that allowed the Knights to build a 21-16 lead after 
the score had been tied at 16 apiece. Hope never got closer than five points the 
rest of the game as the Knights closed out the game three win. 

In game four, the Knights were able to build an 18-10 lead and then used an 
11-6 run to build a 29-16 edge. Hope scored three consecutive points to remain 
alive before Brenneman closed out the match with a powerful kill down the left 
side. 

Brenneman and senior teammate Melissa Pell (Fremont HS) led Calvin with 16 
kills apiece with Brenneman picking up eight digs and three blocks and Pell four 
digs a and a match-high nine blocks. Senior Cassie Christopher (Fruitport HS) 
was also stellar with 15 kills, 10 digs, three aces and three blocks. Senior 
setter Laura Tucker (Holland Christian HS) tossed out 60 assists for her 
second-highest single-match total of the year while also picking up eight digs 
and five blocks. Sophomore middle-hitter Kara Kuipers (Unity Christian HS) 
added nine kills, three blocks and a match-high four service aces. 

In addition, junior Trisha Balkema (Highland, IN) amassed a match-high 24 digs 
with senior Sarah Rottman (Holland Christian HS) contributing 15 digs and two 
aces and sophomore Kristin DeGroot (Tulare, CA) 14 digs and three aces. 

Calvin will now break until next Wednesday when it hosts league-leading Alma in 
a pivotal 6:30 p.m. match at the Calvin Fieldhouse. Alma (7-0) handed Calvin 
its only league defeat of the year, defeating the Knights 30-27, 33-31, 24-30, 
30-24 on September 4.