GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin University women's volleyball team continued its strong run in conference play with a 3-0 win over Albion College by the scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-14 on Friday night at Van Noord Arena.
The two teams entered the night in a tie for second place in the conference standings with matching 4-1 MIAA records and Calvin (16-8, 5-1) set the tone early with its front row defense.
The Knights opened the first set with a 5-1 advantage and scored the first three of its points on blocks.
Jasmine Namminga (Pella, Iowa/Pella Community) and
Emma Ekblaw (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) each recorded two early blocks to help the Knights race out to the early lead and ultimately take the first set 25-14.
Calvin finished with six blocks in the first set, led by Namminga and
Vanessa Martinez (Grandville, Mich./Wyoming) with three apiece.
Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) recorded six kills to lead the Knights on the attack.
The Knights jumped out to another 5-0 start to the second set, but Albion (8-21, 4-2) fought back as it tied the score at 14-14 and held a two-point lead at 20-18 late in the set. Calvin had the answers down the stretch, however, and scored seven of the last eight points to earn a 25-21 win and take a 2-0 overall lead.
Avery Ekkens (Portage, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) led the attack with six kills in the second set and also added seven digs.
The third set was more like the first, with the Knights pulling away early before finishing off the Britons down the stretch to secure the sweep. Baker led the attack with six more kills in the set, while Ekkens and Namminga each recorded four kills.
Calvin hit .293 for the match with Baker's 17 kills leading the way. Ekkens finished with 12 kills and hit .379. She also tied
Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian) with 14 digs to record her ninth double-double of the season.
Namminga and Martinez combined for 11 kills and finished with six blocks apiece.
Delaney Kemp (Frisco, Texas/Frisco Centennial) led all players with 24 assists to go with 10 digs.
COACH'S COMMENT: "I thought our serving and our passing allowed everything else to happen for us tonight," Calvin head women's volleyball coach Dr.
Amber Warners said. "I thought our setters did a nice job. One of the biggest things I look at is side-out percentage, and we were nearly 80 percent in two of the sets (first and third) and I'm really happy with that.
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball will return to action on Wednesday, November 6, when it travels to The University of Olivet for a match scheduled to start at 6:30 PM.
