GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The number-eight ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team lost its match to Millikin University 3-1 (21-25, 25-18, 25-22, 25-23) on Saturday at the Midwest Invitational at Van Noord Area.
 
The Knights battled all match to find a rhythm as the Big Blue did a good job of serving and passing to stay in system.
 
Calvin (18-4) trailed 20-14 in the first set, but roared back with an 11-1 run to win the set thanks to strong serving from Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian) and Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck).
 
Millikin (19-7) did a good job of shaking off the opening-set defeat, however, and raced out to a big lead on the way to tying the match with a 25-18 set-two win.
 
The Big Blue continued to roll in the third set, building a big lead before holding off a late Calvin rally to take a 2-1 lead into the fourth game.
 
In the fourth set, the two teams went back and forth as Emma Ekblaw (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) came alive for the Knights with five kills, but Addison Oyer was able to close the match for Millikin with her match-high 16th kill to give the Big Blue the win.
 
The Knights struggled to find their attack through a strong Millikin block that finished with nine total blocks on the day. Baker led the Knights with 13 kills, followed by Avery Ekkens (Portage, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) and Ekblaw with 11 apiece.
 
Ekblaw also added four blocks for the Knights, while Baker finished with 16 digs.
 
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball returns to action on Tuesday, October 24, when it travels to Adrian for a match scheduled to start at 6:30 PM.