GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The 14th-ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team advanced to the final of the MIAA Volleyball Tournament presented by Collegiate Credit Union with a 3-0 sweep of Saint Mary's College on Friday night in the semifinal round at Van Noord Arena.
Calvin (24-3) entered the tournament as the top seed and defeated fourth-seed Saint Mary's (17-11) by the scores of 25-11, 25-18 and 25-15.
Jordan Steen (Hudsonville, Mich./Unity Christian) helped the Knights break open a 6-6 first set by serving 11 straight points to give Calvin a commanding lead on the way to winning the set 25-11.
Sarah Bradley (Clarkston, Mich./Everest Collegiate) led a Calvin attack that hit .500 in the set with four kills. Steen recorded three service aces during her run to go with four digs.
The Calvin front row put on a big performance in the second set with five blocks, including four from Bradley and three from
Kate Van Appledorn (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) as the Knights pulled away to win the second set 25-18. Bradley added three more kills to her total while
Olivia Peterson (Muskegon, Mich./North Muskegon) recorded two kills, nine assists and one ace.
Bradley and Van Appledorn continued to block the Belles' attack in the third set as the two combined for four blocks in the set.
Allison Moore (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter Christian) added four of her eight kills in the final set while
Caralee Schipper (Mount Brydges, Ontario, Canada/Strathroy District Collegiate Institute) had three kills to help finish out the win.
Bradley and Van Appledorn each finished the match with nine blocks apiece, with Bradley also adding 10 kills, three aces and eight digs. Van Appledorn finished with six kills. The nine blocks set new career highs for both players.
Moore finished with eight kills and hit .571 for the match while Schipper had six kills and hit .545. Peterson recorded 26 assists, four aces and four kills.
Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian) tied Steen for the team lead with nine digs.
COACH'S COMMENT: "I thought we came out and played really well right from the start," head coach Dr.
Amber Warners said. "The serving and the passing were aggressive and spot on, which allowed us to do a lot of stuff offensively."
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball advanced to the MIAA Tournament Final against Hope College tomorrow (Saturday, November 14). That match is scheduled to start at 5:30 PM.
