As we head into the summer of 2024, we are looking back on the highlights from the 2023-24 athletic season at Calvin University as part of our Year in Review Series.
 
The Calvin men's volleyball team played its first ever varsity season in 2024, finishing 6-19 overall and 3-6 in MCVL play.
 
Here were some of the highlights of the Knights' season…
 
The Start of the Men's Volleyball Program
 
Calvin announced the addition of men's volleyball as a varsity sport in the fall of 2022, and head coach Spencer Fredrick was hired to run the program in January of 2023. With less than a season to put together the program's first varsity roster, Fredrick led the Knights to six wins with a combination of players from the club team, as well as freshman and transfer students. In the program's first ever home match on February 2 against Siena Heights, more than 2,000 fans were in attendance at Van Noord Arena.
 
First Ever Win on February 6 over Aquinas
 
The Knights secured the first win in program history on February 6 against Aquinas College at Van Noord Arena. The two teams played to a five-set win by Aquinas the week before, but Calvin overcame a first-set defeat to win the next three to top Aquinas for its first ever win in the rematch. Gabriel Laughlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Michigan Aviation Academy) led the team with 15 kills while Nick Bultje (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian) added 10 blocks.
 
Finished Sixth in MCVL
 
Calvin finished its inaugural season in sixth place (out of 10) in the MCVL with a 3-6 conference record. The Knights recorded wins over Wabash (3-2), Adrian (3-2) and Olivet (3-1), while also taking at least one set in four of their six conference defeats. Laughlin and Bultje were each named Honorable Mention All-MCVL following the season.