GRAND RAPIDS - The Calvin University women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on day one of the Calvin Invite. The Knights won the opener against Earlham 3-0 (29-27, 25-13, 25-14) before falling 3-2 against North Park (26-24, 18-25, 5-25, 25-17, 15-10) in the nightcap.

Calvin 3, Earlham 0

The Knights won their home opener in the afternoon match, defeating Earlham 3-0.

Calvin (10-1) trailed late in the opening set 23-18, but freshman Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, MIch./Holland Christian) served five straight points to get the Knights back into the set. The teams traded points back and forth after that, but Vanessa Martinez (Hudsonville, Mich./Wyoming) and Emma Ekblaw (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) combined for a block to secure the final point and give the Knights the 1-0 lead in the match. 

It would be smooth sailing from there for the Knights, as they built big leads over Earlham (4-9) on the way to winning the next two sets 25-13 and 25-14 to finish off the sweep.

Martinez had a big day in the front row with 10 blocks to go with 10 kills and a .438 attack efficiency. 

Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) led the team with 13 kills and 11 digs, while Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) added 10 kills.

North Park 3, Calvin 2

Calvin was unable to hold a 2-1 lead in the second match as North Park came back to win in five.

The Vikings won a tough first set 26-24 to take the early lead, but the Knights answered the bell with a pair of dominant sets. Calvin (10-2) won the second set 25-18, and then scored 11 straight points early to win the third 25-5.

North Park (12-1) would respond, however, hitting .314 on the attack (after hitting -.429 in the third) and won the fourth set 25-17 to force a fifth and deciding game.

The Vikings continued to ride that momentum in the fifth set, hitting a match-best .400 on the attack to take the set 15-10 and the match 3-2.

Baker led all players with 18 kills and 17 digs, while Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) and Avery Ekkens (Portage, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) each finished with 16 digs.

Kellogg finished with 13 kills, while Jasmine Namminga (Pella, Iowa/Pella Community) finished with a team-best seven blocks to go with eight kills.

COACH'S COMMENT: "I thought there were times that we played intense and really well," Calvin women's volleyball head coach Dr. Amber Warners said. "But I thought we need to learn how to be more consistent throughout the match no matter what the score is."

NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball returns to action tomorrow (Saturday, September 23) for day two of the Calvin Invite against UW-Platteville at 1:00 PM.