Calvin opened MIAA Tournament play with 30-20, 30-15, 30-13 first round victory 
over St. Mary's Tuesday night at the Calvin Fieldhouse, extending its win streak 
to 12 matches.  
  
Calvin was one of four host teams to claim first round tournament victories 
Tuesday night as Hope swept Adrian, Kalamazoo swept Albion and Alma swept 
Olivet. 
  
Top-seeded Alma (23-7) will host the semifinals Friday and the championship 
final on Saturday. Second-seeded Calvin (26-6) will face third-seeded Kalamazoo 
(24-10) at 5:30 p.m. in the first semifinal Friday with Alma slated to host 
fourth-seeded Hope (17-13) in the second semifinal. 
  
Friday's winners will then meet in the MIAA Tournament Championship final 
Saturday at 4:00 p.m. All of the weekend matches will be held at Alma's 
Cappaert Gymnasium. 
  
Calvin senior Melissa Pell of Fremont High School led a balanced Knight attack 
as she slammed home 12 kills, served six aces and collected three solo blocks. 
The 5-11 middle-hitter was particularly affective in game one when she served 
three consecutive aces to give Calvin the early momentum. 
  
"Melissa was definitely on tonight," said Calvin women's volleyball coach 
Amber Warners. "When she can get rolling with her serves like that, she really 
provides a big spark for our team." 
  
Senior teammate Cassie Christopher of Fruitport High School also had a big 
evening for Calvin, collecting 10 kills, six digs and one block. Sophomores 
Kathy Brenneman (North Muskegon HS), Kara Kuipers (Unity Christian HS) and 
Michelle Huyser (Window Rock, AZ) added seven kills apiece. Junior libero 
Trisha Balkema (Highland, IN) added eight digs from the back row while senior 
setter Laura Tucker (Holland Christian HS) tossed out 31 assists and picked up 
two aces. 
  
"We had number of players contribute tonight which I felt was important," said 
Warners. "We will need a complete team effort on Friday against a Kalamazoo 
team that is playing very well right now." 
  
Kalamazoo is the only MIAA team to defeat Alma this year as the Hornets edged 
the Scots in five games in a match last Wednesday night at the Cappaert 
Gymnasium. 
  
Calvin will be making its fourth straight appearance in the MIAA Tournament 
semifinals. The Knights are 3-0 in MIAA Tournament semifinals matches and have 
won two of the three prior MIAA Tournaments, defeating Hope in the final in 1999 
and in 2001. Hope defeated Calvin in the 2000 MIAA Tournament final. 
  
Friday's match will present the first MIAA Tournament meeting between Calvin 
and Kalamazoo.