LEXINGTON, Ky. - The seventh-ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team opened the season with a four-set win over Illinois Wesleyan at the Transylvania Invite by the scores of 25-16, 23-25, 26-24 and 25-19.

The Knights jumped out of the gates quickly, taking the opening set 25-16 and recording 18 kills and a .390 attack efficiency to take the early lead in the match.

The Titans battled back in the second set as the two teams went back and forth throughout before IWU was able to secure the final point to even the match 1-1.

Both teams continued to fight in the important third game, as Calvin jumped out to a 6-0 early lead and led 23-20 late in the set, but IWU scored four straight points to take a late 24-23 lead. The Knights did not panic, however, and Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) recorded a pair of kills to help Calvin win the final three points and win the set 26-24.

Calvin continued with that momentum into the fourth set, building an early 14-4 set before holding off a rally by the Titans to secure the win.

The Knights finished the match with 60 kills and hit .283 on the attack, with Baker leading the charge with a match-high 23 kills. 

Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) added 14 kills and hit .400 overall, while Alyssa DeVries (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) finished with 44 assists and 11 digs. 

Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) led the Knights with 23 digs, while Vanessa Martinez (Hudsonville, Mich./Wyoming) recorded six blocks.

COACH'S COMMENT: "It was a great first win for us," Calvin head women's volleyball coach Dr. Amber Warners said. "We were challenged and had to dig deep at times. We need to continue to keep working hard to limit our unforced errors."

NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball will return to action tomorrow (Saturday, September 2) when it faces a pair of ranked opponents on day two of the Transylvania Invite. The Knights will start the day with a match against 11th-ranked Berry at 10 AM, followed by a match against the eighth-ranked host Transylvania at 12:30 PM.