D3photography.com Photo Gallery From Calvin-North Park Volleyball Match - 1-19-24

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – The Calvin University men's volleyball team lost the opening match of its inaugural season 3-1 to North Park on Friday by the scores of 25-14, 23-25, 25-16 and 25-13 at a tournament hosted by Marian University.
 
Calvin (0-1) dropped the opening set 25-14 and trailed 11-5 early in the second game, but rallied to tie the score at 17-17 and took the second set 25-23 with a kill by Nick Bultje (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian) to even the match at 1-1.
 
North Park (1-0) responded with a strong start to the third set, and then scored six of the final seven points to win the set 25-16 and take a 2-1 overall lead.
 
The Vikings continued that momentum in the final set, where it held off four straight Calvin points before winning nine of the final 10 points of the set to secure the win.
 
North Park was strong on the attack, hitting .312 for the match compared to .044 for Calvin, and also finished with 13 service aces to go with its 45 kills.
 
Bultje, Gabe Laughlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Michigan Aviation Academy) and Aren Eisses (Utopia, Ontario/Unity Christian) lead Calvin with seven kills apiece, with Bultje hitting .500 on 10 total attacks in the match.
 
Ethan Wilstermann (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) led the Knights with four blocks, while Cameron Dogger (Holland, Mich./Zion Christian) finished with a team-high 25 assists.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "Glad to get the first match out of the way," Calvin head men's volleyball coach Spencer Fredrick said. "Definitely some bright spots and things to build on for the matches tomorrow.
 
NEXT UP: Calvin returns to action at the Marian tournament tomorrow (Saturday, January 20) when it plays a pair of matches against Marian (12:00 PM CST) and Olivet (2:00 PM CST).