Bloomington, Ill. – The 19th-ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team returns to action at the 2025 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament with its quarter-final match against third-ranked UW-Oshkosh on Wednesday (December 3) and 2 PM (CT) on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.

The Teams: Calvin is 28-3 entering the NCAA III Quarterfinal following wins over Hanover College (3-0), 13th-ranked UW-Whitewater (3-1) and second-ranked Illinois Wesleyan (3-2) at the NCAA III Regional hosted by Illinois Wesleyan. The Knights have won 16 straight matches dating back to a 3-0 defeat at Hope College at the end of September. Following a 23-3 regular season (7-1 in MIAA play), Calvin defeated Albion College (3-0) and 10th-ranked Hope College (3-1) to win the MIAA Tournament hosted by Hope.

UW-Oshkosh enters the match ranked third in the nation with a 31-3 record and has won seven straight. The Titans won the WIAC regular season and tournament titles, and followed that with wins in the NCAA III Regional with 3-0 sweeps of Greenville University, 25th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus College and 21st-ranked WashU.

The Series – This marks the fourth time these two programs have met in women's volleyball, with the Knights holding a 3-0 record all time against the Titans. This is third time these programs have met in the NCAA III Tournament, with the Knights winning 3-0 in the second round of the 2022 NCAA III Tournament and 3-0 in the first round of the 2014 NCAA III Tournament. The Knights also defeated UW-Oshkosh 3-1 in an early season tournament in 2017.

NCAA III Tournament History –  This marks the 33rd appearance in the NCAA III Volleyball Tournament for Calvin, including the 20th appearance in the last 21 seasons under head coach Dr. Amber Warners. The Knights are 74-31 all-time in the NCAA III Tournament with a 59-16 record under Warners. Calvin has won three NCAA III titles (2010, 2013 and 2016). Warners has also led Calvin to five regional finals, one NCAA Quarterfinal, two final fours and three NCAA finals appearances in her 24 seasons. Calvin missed the NCAA III Tournament last fall and most recently played in the tournament in 2023, falling to Gustavus Adolphus in a first round match at UW-Oshkosh.

Common Opponents – Calvin and UW-Oshkosh share four common opponents (Hope College, Illinois Wesleyan University, UW-Stevens Point and Carthage College) from this season, with the Knights going 3-2 in those opponents while the Titans went 3-1. Calvin defeated Illinois Wesleyan and Carthage while splitting two meetings against Hope and losing to UW-Stevens Point. UW-Oshkosh defeated Hope, Carthage and UW-Stevens Point while losing to Illinois Wesleyan.

Rankings – Calvin entered NCAA III Tournament play ranked 19^th in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Division III poll. Calvin finished 18th in the final NCAA Division III Power Index metrics before the tournament and now rank 12th. UW-Oshkosh entered the tournament ranked third in the AVCA poll and third in the NPI, and now ranked second in the NPI heading into the final week of the NCAA III Tournament.  

The Coaches: Calvin is coached by Dr. Amber Warners in her 24th season. Warners has led the Knights to three national championships (2010, 2013 and 2016) with a career record of 705-119. She picked up her historic 700th win on November 7 in a three-set win at Alma College. Two weeks ago, she was named the MIAA Coach of the Year and the AVCA Great Lakes Region (VII) Coach of the Year. Her regional award marks the eighth time she won that honor to go with four AVCA National Coach of the Year awards. She is the Division III career leader in winning percentage in terms of active women's (D3) volleyball coaches. She carries a career winning percentage of .856 heading this weekend.

The Titans are led by Jon Ellmann in his eighth season. Ellmann is 205-69 in his eight seasons and won the AVCA NCAA III National Coach of the Year award in 2023 and has led the program to the NCAA III quarterfinals for the third consecutive season.

The Players: Calvin had three of its players receive AVCA All-Region (7) honors. Seniors Aerin Baker (OH) and Emma Ekblaw (MB) were named to the All-Region First team while freshman Sarah Bradley (OH) was named to the AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention list. Bradley was also named the AVCA Region 7 Freshman of the Year. Baker and Ekblaw were named to the All-MIAA First Team. Bradley and junior libero Tryna Vander Zwaag were named to the All-MIAA Second Team. Bradley was named the MIAA Newcomer of the Year while Vander Zwaag was named the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year. 

For UW-Oshkosh, Sami Pearlberg was named AVCA First Team All-America, while Lauren Grier was named Second Team All-America and Grace Juergens was named Honorable Mention All-America by the AVCA. All three players earned AVCA All-Region honors. Pearlberg was also named WIAC Offensive Player of the Year and AVCA Region VIII Player of the Year.

NCAA III Regional Honors: Calvin senior middle blocker Emma Ekblaw was named the NCAA III Regional Tournament MVP with her performance at the Illinois Wesleyan Regional. In three wins, Ekblaw averaged 2.67 kills and 1.92 blocks per set while hitting .406 on the attack to lead the Knights. Aerin Baker and Sarah Bradley were also named to the Regional All-Tournament Team.

Finishing Strong: In her last five matches since the start of the MIAA Tournament, Calvin senior Emma Ekblaw is hitting .414 on the attack while averaging 2.63 kills and 1.84 blocks per set. Ekblaw recorded 14 kills and seven blocks in the MIAA Tournament Final win at Hope College, and backed that up with 12 kills in wins over UW-Whitewater and Illinois Wesleyan during the NCAA III Regional. Ekblaw also recorded 10 blocks against Whitewater and eight more blocks against Illinois Wesleyan.

Ekblaw has saved her best for the Knights' top opponents so far this season. In five matches against ranked opponents, she is hitting .431 with 2.43 kills and 1.43 blocks per set.

NCAA III Statistics – As a team, Calvin is ranked sixth in blocks per set (2.5), 25th in hitting percentage (.237), 20th in opponent hitting percentage (.108). Individually, Calvin junior Mary Boa is ranked 13^th in blocks per set (1.23) and Emma Ekblaw is ranked 21st in blocks per set (1.14).

Tale of the Tape: 

• Kills per set – Calvin 12.76, UW-Oshkosh 13.71
• Attack efficiency – Calvin .237, UW-Oshkosh .228
• Opponents' Attack efficiency – Calvin .108, UW-Oshkosh .120
• Aces per set – Calvin 2.24, UW-Oshkosh 1.88
• Blocks per set – Calvin 2.5, UW-Oshkosh 2.42

Coverage: Live Video will be provided by Illinois Wesleyan - Live Stream Link l Live Stats

Tickets: You can pre-purchase tickets if you click here. Tickets also available on-site using either cash or credit cards. 

Single-session (one-day)
Adults: $12
Senior Citizens/Veterans: $10
Student (with ID): 10
Children under 12: $7
Child - 2 years: free

All-session (all three days)
Adults: $30
Senior Citizens/Veterans: $20
Student (with ID): $20
Children under 12: $12
Child - 2 years: free