Box Score SANDUSKY, Oh. – The 8th-ranked Calvin volleyball team picked up a big win in the first day of the MIAA-NCAC Challenge as it defeated non-conference rival Wittenberg in four sets, winning by scores of 25-27, 25-21, 25-13, 25-20.
Early in the first set the Tigers jumped out to the 6-1 lead over the Knights. Calvin started to get in a rhythm and tied it at 10-10 after a nice kill from Anna Schrimer (Vicksburg, MI / Vicksburg). Both teams were trading points until things were tied at 13-13. Wittenberg started to pull ahead and took an 18-14 lead.
The Knights battled right back into the game as the first set came down to the wire. They took a 25-24 lead after an ace by Heidi Westra (Clarendon Hils, IL / Timothy Christian), but Wittenberg took the next three points and won the first set 27-25.
The start of the second set saw the Knights jumping out to a 10-7 lead after a kill by Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, MI / Plymouth Christian Academy). A kill by Madelyn Hall (Hudsonville, MI / Hudsonville) continued to add to the lead and the Knights were up 15-9. Calvin pushed its lead to 20-15 after a kill by Gabriella Kellogg. Wittenberg made a push at the end, but Calvin took the second set 25-21.
The match was tied 1-1 heading into the third set as Calvin took an 8-1 lead after a kill by Westra. The Knights continued to put it on early with the points by jumping out to a 14-6 lead. Calvin dominated the third set after a service ace by Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, MI / Jenison) to make it a 19-9 score. They easily took the third set 25-13 to take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
The Tigers gained an early 6-2 lead in the fourth set, but after a few attack errors the Knights took an 8-7 lead. It was a close fourth set as Calvin only lead by a point with a score of 16-15 after a kill by Gabriella Kellogg. Both teams were battling but after a big block by Vanessa Martinez (Hudsonville, MI / Wyoming) and another block by Westra, Calvin led 22-19. The Knights closed out the set with a score of 25-20 and took the match 3-1.
Westra led the way in kills with 17 while teammate Maria Bos (Grand Rapids, MI / Grand Rapids Christian) finished with 15. Gabriella Kellogg finished with 14 kills while Wrubel finished with a team-high 16 digs.
COACHES COMMNETS: "We played more and more relaxed as the match went on which led us to play free and perform better," said Head Coach Amber Warners. "We are working on having less unforced errors and look forward to competing tomorrow against some very good team."
UP NEXT: Calvin will play Ohio Wesleyan at noon and Denison at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow September 11.
