RIVER FOREST, Ill. - Today the Calvin men's volleyball team kicked off their three consecutive days of competition with a match against the Cougars of Concordia University Chicago. After winning the first set the Knights never looked back as they picked up the 3-0 sweep with scores of 21-25, 28-25, and 25-20.
 
After sophomore Nick Bultje (Byron Center, Mich./South Christian) and senior Gabriel Laughlin (Grand Rapids, Mich./West Michigan Aviation Academy) led the way with three kills apiece in the first set the Knights headed into a heated second set.
 
With no team ever having more than a three point lead the Cougars seemed to find momentum when they had an opportunity to even the match when they held a 22-24 lead. However, Calvin refused to back down and after fending off three set points for Concordia freshman Troy Jones (Sparta, Mich./Sparta) made the final kill to give the Knights a 2-0 lead.
 
In the third set Calvin finished what they started and picked up the road victory against the Cougars. Bultje finished his evening as the lead attacker for the Knights with 9 kills while Laughlin chipped in 8 kills. Bryce Broekhuizen (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) recorded 6 kills during the match while freshman trio Jones, Gavin Barber (Lowell, Mich./Lowell), and Carter Nicholes (Caldwell, Id./Vision Charter School) each had 5 kills.
 
Setting duo Cameron Dogger (Holland, Mich./Zion Christian) and Ezekiel Jalan (Oconomowoc, Wis./Arrowhead) each had 16 assists while junior libero Parker Steele (Boscobel, Wis./Boscal) notched 5 digs.
 
COACHES COMMENTS: "Solid win tonight," said head coach Spencer Fredrick. "We're on to the next match tomorrow."
 
UP NEXT: The Knights will be back in action tomorrow night when they compete at the Cornerstone Invite. They will play their first match against Indiana University East at 5PM before taking on Governors State at 7PM.