BROOKLYN, NY – The Calvin women's volleyball team picked up a pair of impressive wins at the NYU Showdown on Friday.
Ranked eighth nationally, Calvin opened the day with a four-set win over 10^th-ranked and host NYU. The Knights then held off a spirited effort by Swarthmore to claim a three-set win in their second match of the afternoon.
The Knights were treated to a warm welcome by several Calvin alumni and supporters who made the trip to the Big Apple.
Calvin used the fan support to its favor in defeating NYU 25-22, 19-25, 25-23, 25-12 in the opening match of the tournament.
In set one, Calvin led 23-17 only to see NYU claw back to within two at 24-22. A kill by sophomore Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) closed out the set one win for the Knights.

The Violets (12-4 overall) hit at a .300 clip to claim a set two one, setting up a crucial third set. Calvin trailed early 5-2 in the third but roared back to take a 13-9 advantage. Calvin held the lead the rest of the set with NYU closing within one at 23-22 and 24-23 but a kill down the sideline by senior Heidi Westra (Clarendon Hills, Il./Timothy Christian HS) off a feed from freshman Alyssa DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) closed out the set three win.

With a 2-1 advantage in the match, Calvin proceeded to hit .591 in the fourth set to close out the win.

Westra and Kellogg formed a formidable one-two attacking punch in the win with Westra amassing 19 kills while Kellogg had 18 kills and a .351 attack percentage. Senior middle Tori Roskamp (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian HS) was also big with seven kills, seven blocks and a .417 hitting percentage. DeVries chalked up 47 assists, nine digs and a pair of service aces. Westra had 13 digs, three block assists and three aces. Senior Maria Bos (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian HS) contributed a team-high 17 digs to go with six kills with senior Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, Mich./Jenison HS) collecting 11 digs and three assists.

Calvin hit .267 as a team in the win.

The Knights then took on an upset-minded Swarthmore squad but held off the Garnet 25-22, 25-19, 27-25.

Westra racked up 24 kills in the victory, setting a new career-high in a three-set win. She also hit at a .455 clip in the win.

Swarthmore (10-4) pushed Calvin in the third set, leading 25-24 but a Swarthmore service error, a kill by Westra and an attacking error by the Garnet closed out the Calvin win.

DeVries had 34 assists, 13 digs and four aces while Wrubel had eight digs and three aces. Kellogg and Roskamp had seven kills apiece.

COACHES COMMENT: "We had a huge following today that came to New York to watch us play and we are very grateful for that," said Calvin head women's volleyball coach Amber Warners. "We played two very tough teams and I was really proud of our grit and resolve. It was really good volleyball today and the teams here are legit. We are going to rest up because we need to come ready to play against a very good MIT team tomorrow."

NEXT UP: Calvin will face 19^th-ranked MIT on Saturday at 10 a.m. at the NYU Showdown.