GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The number-eight Calvin University women's volleyball swept the opening day of the Midwest Invitational, defeating Suquehanna 3-0 (25-8, 25-9, 25-8) to start the day before topping UC Santa Cruz 3-1 (25-23, 23-25, 25-18, 25-13) to close the night. 

Calvin 3, Susquehanna 0

The Knights started the day with a strong performance against the River Hawks from Susquehanna in a 3-0 sweep. 

Calvin (17-3) never trailed or were tied in the match, as it hit .458 in the opening set, .314 in the second set, and then closed the third game hitting .400.

The Knights committed only seven attack errors in the match, four of which were blocks for Susquehanna (7-15), while holding the River Hawks to a .000 attack efficiency for the match.

Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) led the way with 11 kills, while Jasmine Namminga (Pella, Iowa/Pella Community) finished with nine and Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) and Avery Ekkens (Portage, Mich./Kalamazoo Central) each finished with seven kills.

Namminga also finished with a team-best five blocks, while Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) added 10 digs.

Calvin 3, UCSC 1

The Knights battled through some adversity early in the match to come back and top UC Santa Cruz (UCSC) in four to close the day.

Calvin (18-3) started strong, building a 24-15 lead before holding off a surge by UCSC (12-15) late to take the set 25-23.

The Banana Slugs continued that momentum into the second set, hitting .389 with 17 kills en route to a 25-23 set-two win to tie the match 1-1. 

The Knights would take control from that point, as Baker, Ekblaw and Kellogg combined for 10 kills to lead Calvin to a third-set win.

In the fourth game, the Knights hit .533 without any attack errors to secure the 3-1 win.

Ekblaw led a balanced attack for the Knights with a career-high 15 kills, including six kills in the final set. Baker (13) and Kellogg (11) also finished in double figures, while Namminga added nine kills to go with three blocks. 

COACH'S COMMENT: "I'm really proud because we were in some really low moments (against UCSC) tonight and that happens sometimes during volleyball matches and during the season," Calvin head coach Dr. Amber Warners said. "I'm proud of the way we reacted to that because you have a choice to make and I thought our players worked through it. There's always things going on out there no one can see that we were dealing with, and it's how you come away from that, which is really important. I thought once we did that we played relaxed and we played our game."

NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball returns to action on day two of the Midwest Invitational when it hosts Millikin University in a match scheduled to start at 1:00 PM.