HOLLAND, Mich. - The Calvin University volleyball team split a pair of matches featuring highly ranked opponents on Friday at Hope.

The Knights, ranked fifth in the most recent AVCA poll, dropped the opener to seventh-ranked University of Northwestern-St. Paul (UNW) in four sets by the scores of 13-25, 25-15, 25-19, 29-27, but defeated 11th-ranked Otterbein 3-1 in the second match by the scores of 25-19, 23-25, 25-21, 25-15.

Calvin came out on fire to start the match against UNW, winning the opening set 25-13 while hitting .714 on the attack to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

The Eagles came back strong, however, stealing momentum with a 25-15 second-set win, and then taking control of the match with a 25-19 win in the third game.

Trailing 24-18 late in the fourth set, the Knights came all the way back to tie the match 24-24 and saved a total of nine match points until the Eagles finally secured the win with a 29-27 set.

Heidi Westra (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Timothy Christian) led the Knights on the attack with 18 kills. Vanessa Martinez (Hudsonville, Mich./Wyoming) and Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) added 11 and 10 kills, respectively, while Alyssa DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) finished with 44 kills and 10 digs in the match.

The Knights once again started strong against Otterbein in the second match, winning the opening set 25-19 before the Cardinals tied the match with a 25-23 second-set win.

Calvin would take control back in the third set, building a big lead early and holding off the Cardinals 25-21 down the stretch, and then finished strong with a 25-15 win in the fourth and final game to secure the win.

Westra once again led the team with 18 kills, while Martinez led the Knights with seven blocks and five service aces to go with her five kills.

Calvin moved to 6-2 on the season with the split. Northwestern improved to 9-0 with its win, while Otterbein dropped to 9-2 with its defeat.

COACH'S COMMENT: "We played two very tough teams back-to-back so I am proud of our effort and not giving up," Calvin volleyball head coach Amber Warners said. "I think we played very well at times and we will continue to keep working hard to improve."

NEXT UP: Calvin volleyball will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, September 17) at the tournament hosted by Hope College. The Knights will face Clarkson at 12 PM, followed by a match against Elmhurst at 2 PM.