The 18th-ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team opened the 2024 season with a gritty 3-1 win over Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) at the University of Mount Union Invitational on Friday night.
 
The Knights won the four-set match by the scores of 25-23, 25-17, 21-25 and 28-26.
 
CMU, which finished just outside the AVCA Top 25 Preseason Poll earlier this week, proved a tough test for the Knights throughout in a season opener.
 
Calvin never trailed in the opening set but had to fight off a late rally by the Tartans to win 25-23. The Knights finished with 21 kills in the set, led by six from Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck).
 
The Tartans got off to a quick start to set number-two, but Calvin quickly recovered and closed strong to take a commanding 2-0 overall lead.
 
CMU started to turn the momentum in the third set, building a four-point lead near the midway point of the set and closing strong to force a fourth game.
 
The Tartans looked to have the Knights on the ropes early in the fourth and built an 18-12 lead, but Calvin jumped right back into the set with eight of the next 10 points to tie the set 20-20. After CMU built a 24-21 lead late, the Knights fought off three set points to tie the match 24-24 before finally putting the Tartans away late.
 
Emma Ekblaw (Chesteron, Ind./Chesterton) came up big in the fourth set, recording seven of her match-high 16 kills in the set to help push the Knights over the top.
 
Baker finished with 14 kills, while Avery Ekkens (Portage, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) finished with eight kills to go with 17 digs.
 
Lina Kasuboski (Racine, Mich./Union Grove) earned the start at libero in her first collegiate match and finished with a team-best 20 digs and four service aces. Delaney Kemp (Frisco, Texas/Frisco Centennial) added 16 digs and 11 assists, while Grace Spoelma (Caledonia, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) led the Knights with 20 assists.
 
COACH'S COMMENT: "We learned a lot about our team tonight as well as learned a lot through our mistakes," Calvin head women's volleyball coach Dr. Amber Warners said. "We played great defense and were gritty and didn't give up. We fought back from being down in the fourth set and I couldn't be prouder of every team member's energy and buy in on the court and on the bench. It was really fun to watch."
 
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball will play its second day at the Mount Union Invitational tomorrow (Saturday, August 31). The Knights will face Marietta College at 12:00 PM before facing Mount Union at 2:00 PM in the tournament finale.