Calvin University women's volleyball players Aerin Baker and Emma Ekblaw were named Honorable Mention All-Americans by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) on Wednesday.
 
The two seniors earned the recognition after previously being named First Team All-Region by the AVCA and have led the Knights to a 28-3 record this season.
 
After winning the MIAA Tournament on November 15, Calvin won the NCAA III Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University last week to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA III Tournament next week (also hosted by Illinois Wesleyan). The Knights will face number-three UW-Oshkosh in the NCAA III Tournament quarterfinals on Wednesday, December 3.
 
Aerin Baker
 
Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) earned her third consecutive AVCA Honorable Mention All-American honor to go along with three straight AVCA First Team All-Region and All-MIAA First Team honors. Baker leads the Knights in kills per set for the third straight season, averaging 3.52 kills per set with a .229 attack efficiency so far.
 
Earlier this season, Baker surpassed the 1,000 career kills milestone and currently has 1,086 kills for her career with an average of 3.45 kills per set. In Saturday's Regional Final win over second-ranked Illinois Wesleyan, Baker recorded the final two points in the fifth set on kills to push the Knights to win the set 15-13 and advance to the tournament's second week.
 
Baker also earned MIAA Player of the Week honors twice during the regular season.
 
Emma Ekblaw
 
Ekblaw (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) earned AVCA Honorable Mention All-America honors for the second time in her career after previously earning that recognition as a sophomore in 2023. This season, Ekblaw is averaging 2.17 kills per set on .333 efficiency to go with 1.13 blocks per set.
 
A three-time All-MIAA honoree, Ekblaw has saved her best for the biggest moments in her senior season. After recording 14 kills and seven blocks in the MIAA Tournament Final against Hope College and winning MIAA Special of the Week, Ekblaw recorded 12 kills and 10 blocks in the Knights' four-set win over UW-Whitewater in the second round of the NCAA III Tournament, followed by 12 kills and eight blocks against Illinois Wesleyan in the Regional Final. Against ranked opponents this season, Ekblaw is averaging 2.43 kills and 1.43 blocks per set while hitting .431 on the attack in five matches.