PELLA, Iowa – The Calvin University women's volleyball team started strong but could not hold off the University of Dubuque in a five-set defeat to open the season on Friday at a tournament hosted by Central College.
 
Calvin (0-1) won the first two sets 26-24 and 25-19, but Dubuque (2-0) roared back to take the next three sets 25-21, 25-12 and 15-8 to earn the win.
 
The Knights showed strength early by overcoming a 23-18 deficit late in the opening set to come back and win 26-24 and take a 1-0 lead in the match. After scoring five straight points to tie the set at 23-23, the Knights overcame one set point and then won the set on a service ace by Delaney Kemp (Frisco, Texas/Frisco Centennial).
 
Calvin carried that momentum into the second set, where it built an early lead and finished with a 6-1 run to close the set to take a 2-0 overall lead.
 
The Spartans would answer, winning the third set 25-21 to stay alive and then took the fourth set 25-12 to force a fifth and deciding game.
 
In the final set, the Knights built an early 6-2 lead, but the Spartans once again answered with a run of their own, scoring four straight points to tie the set 6-6 and then winning the final six points to finish off the win.
 
Calvin hit .160 on the attack for the match with Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) leading the team with 14 kills. Emma Ekblaw (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) had 10 kills and hit .600 to go with a pair of blocks. Emma O'Connor (Hamilton, Mich./Hamilton) added seven kills and two blocks.
 
Ava Epley (Commerce Charter Township, Mich./Walled Lake Northern) led the team with 22 assists. Sarah Bradley (Village of Clarkston, Mich./Everest Collegiate) recorded a team-high nine digs to go with six kills.
 
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball returns to action for a pair of matches to close the Central tournament tomorrow (Saturday, August 30). The Knights will face Central at 11:00 AM (CT), followed by a match against Buena Vista University at 1:00 PM (CT).