(Photo by Ricky Bassman)

The No. 4 seeded Blugolds (35-3) defeated the No. 6 seeded Knights (32-4) 25-22, 25-23, 25-21 to capture the national crown.

The two teams had squared off in the national semifinals in 2018 with the Knights winning that match in five sets but on Saturday evening, Wisconsin-Eau Claire was up to the task.

The Blugolds kept the Knights on their heels with a strong service attack and aggressive play up front at the net.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire hit .320 in the match, dug up 50 balls and had 10 block assists in the win.

In set one, Calvin fell behind 10-5 and later trailed 21-15. The Knights closed to within two points late at 23-21 and 24-22 but could not climb all the way back as Wisconsin-Eau Claire closed out the set with a kill.

Set two proved to be a tight contest. With the set tied 17-17, the Blugolds went on a 3-0 run to gain a 20-17 lead. Calvin fought back to tie the set 21-21 but Eau Claire but a Calvin ball handling error and back-to-back kills gave the Blugolds a 24-21 lead. A kill from senior Kelsey Smith (Vienna, Va./Madison HS) and a service ace by junior Theresa Kehn (Brighton, Mich./Charyl Stockwell Preparatory School) put Calvin within a point at 24-23 but Wisconsin-Eau Claire came up with the serve receive on the ensuing rally and closed out the set with a kill.

In set three, Calvin built a 19-15 lead but UW-Eau Claire came back with a 5-1 run to tie the set 20-20. A service error by the Blugolds gave Calvin a 21-20 lead but the lead was short lived. UW-Eau Claire came back with a kill and a block to take a 22-21 lead. A ball handling error by the Knights made it a 23-21 score. Smelling victory, Wisconsin-Eau Claire then came up with back-to-back kills from the outside to close out the set and the match.

"I think we were out-matched tonight," said Calvin head women's volleyball coach Amber Warners. "Their height and physicality were tough to match up with.  At the same time I don't think there was one time where our team gave up. I was proud of the way our team competed. They played hard to the final point."

Calvin was led in defeat by junior Heidi Westra (Clarendon Hills, Il./Timothy Christian HS) with 15 kills and a .389 attack percentage. Westra also had six digs and two service aces. Smith had 12 kills. Senior setter Anna Schriemer (Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg HS) had 36 assists and eight digs. Senior Madelyn Hall (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville HS) had seven kills. Junior Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) had 11 digs. Senior Grace Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) had three service aces.  

At the conclusion of the match, Schriemer, Hall and Westra were named to the all-tournament team.

Saturday night marked the seventh appearance for Calvin in a national final in women's volleyball.