GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The 13th-ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team clinched at least a share of the MIAA regular season championship and the top seed in next week's conference tournament with a 3-0 win over Alma College on Wednesday at Van Noord Arena.
Calvin (22-3, 7-0 MIAA) defeated Alma (7-17, 1-6 MIAA) 25-11 in the first set, 25-21 in set two and then 25-17 in the final set to finish off the sweep.
The Knights dominated the opening set, hitting .345 on the attack led by five kills from
Kate Van Appledorn (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) and three from
Sarah Bradley (Clarkston, Mich./Everest Collegiate) to win the set 25-11.
The Scots started strong in the second set, recording three straight service aces and building a 7-0 lead but the Knights answered to tie the set at 12-12 before closing it out with a 25-21 win. Bradley was strong on the attack with six kills in the set while
Allison Moore (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter Christian) added five and
Mary Boa (Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood International Charter) recorded three blocks to help the Knights to a 2-0 overall lead.
Calvin closed out the match in the third set as Moore and Bradley combined for nine more kills and Bradley had two service aces to help the Knights finish off the sweep.
Jasmine Namminga (Pella, Iowa/Pella Community) added three kills in the set to go with one block.
Bradley led the Calvin attack with 14 kills and hit .524 with nine digs and four aces. Moore added 11 kills and hit .417. Boa finished with seven total blocks.
Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian) led the team with 10 digs.
COACH'S COMMENT: "I thought we came out and played with intensity," head coach Dr.
Amber Warners said. "I thought we lapsed a bit to start the second and third sets but I was really with overall how we played. We had goals coming into the season and we can check a couple of them off. From here on out, I think we just have to play really well. Play inside our bubble and try to play a little less error volleyball and sharpen up everything. Doesn't matter who we play. We just have to bring it as best we can."
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball will return to action on Friday, November 6, when it hosts Adrian College in the regular season finale at Van Noord Arena at 6:30 PM.
