GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Calvin University women's volleyball team lost its last match of the weekend Calvin Invite tournament to Otterbein University 3-1 on Saturday at Van Noord Arena by the scores of 26-24, 25-18, 25-16 and 25-20.
The match was a battle of two of the top NCAA III teams in the country as Calvin (8-2) entered the day ranked 15th in the weekly AVCA top 25 poll while Otterbein (10-1) was the first team outside the top 25.
The Cardinals struck first with a 26-24 opening-set win after overcoming a late 21-19 deficit and winning the last two points to take the set. The Cardinals hit .225 on the attack while the Knights'
Sarah Bradley (Clarkston, Mich./Everest Collegiate) led all players with eight kills in the set.
The Otterbein defense led the way in the second set as the Cardinals recorded four blocks and 19 digs to hold the Knights to a .000 attack efficiency on the way to winning the set 25-18.
Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, Mich./Holland Christian) recorded seven digs in the set for Calvin.
The Knights extended the match with a strong third set. Calvin hit .429 on the attack led by
Mary Boa (Atlanta, Ga./Riverwood International Charter) with four kills. Bradley added three kills to her total while seven different Calvin players recorded a kill in the set.
Otterbein wrestled the momentum back in the fourth set, building a 20-15 lead and holding off a late Calvin rally that pulled the lead within two at 22-20 by winning the last three points to finish off the win.
Bradley finished with 16 kills and 13 digs in the match. Vander Zwaag led the Knights with 17 total digs. Boa added eight kills and three blocks.
NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball will return to action on Friday, September 25, for a non-conference match at Alma College scheduled to start at 6:30 PM.
