FOND DU LAC, Wis. - The Calvin University men's volleyball team closed its first ever weekend tournament with a pair of 3-0 defeats to Marian University (25-19, 25-17, 25-15) and The University of Olivet (25-23, 25-23, 25-17) on Saturday at Marian.

Marian 3, Calvin 0

Calvin (0-3) opened the day with a three-set defeat to Marian (2-0) at the Sabres' home tournament. 

The Knights started strong, but the Sabres pulled away down the stretch of the opening set to take a 1-0 overall lead.

After taking the first set, Marian continued that momentum as it built early leads in the second and third games and never looked back on the way to the sweep.

The Sabres were strong on the attack and hit .371 compared to .015 for Calvin. 

Jonathan Pheifer (Lakewood, Calif./Valley Christian), Aren Eisses (Utopia, Ontario/Unity Christian) and Gabriel Laughlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./Western Michigan Aviation Academy) each finished with five kills to leave Calvin. Laughlin also added a team-best five service aces.

Olivet 3, Calvin 0

The Knights fell to The University of Olivet in the second match in three sets by the scores of 25-23, 25-23, 25-17.

The two teams went back and forth to open the match, with Olivet (2-1) building an early lead and the Knights come back to give themselves a chance at the opening set. With the score tied 22-22 late, the Comets scored three of the final four points to win the first set 25-23.

The second set was more of the same as the Knights battled to keep close throughout, but the Comets came up with the being points down the stretch to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Calvin jumped in front 13-10 to open the third set, but the Comets ran off seven straight points to take control on the way to securing the set and the match.

The Knights hit .115 for the match, marking its best attack efficiency in the three matches this season, but 22 errors (compared to 13 for Olivet) proved costly.

Essies led Calvin with nine kills, followed by Brady Gudauskas (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley), Nick Bultje (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian) and Laughlin with five kills apiece. Sven Grimbergen (Bend, Ore./Cascades Academy) finished with a team-high four blocks.

COACH'S COMMENT: "All in all, I was super impressed with how we played," Calvin head men's volleyball coach Spencer Fredrick said. "It was a great weekend of learning and growing as a new team."

NEXT UP: Calvin men's volleyball returns to ation on Friday, January 26, when it plays at Aquinas in a match scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.