by Andrea Schutter

Associate Sports Editor

With both teams in dire need of a win to stay in the hunt for first place in the MIAA, it came down to which team wanted it more. Calvin did its part to prove its desire, knocking off the Kalamazoo Hornets in five games to finish 30-25, 20-30, 30-13, 27-30 and 15-11. With a win at home in the Knollcrest Fieldhouse, Calvin improved its overall record to 11-3 and its MIAA record to 4-1.

Calvin kept its momentum throughout the match with a strong block and towering front row, forcing Kalamazoo to hustle for every ball. The Knights continued to attack the Hornets' defense, hitting off their block and hammering solid line shots. Coming back from a loss in the second game, Calvin dominated in the third game, with runs of 8-5 building to 16-5 and 20-8 building to 27-8. The Knights executed effective tips and dumps, taking advantage of the Hornets' defensive errors. Calvin fell behind early in the fourth game, but fought back from 7-13 to take the lead at 16-15. After a close loss, the Knights fired up and played with extreme intensity in the fifth game. The Hornets attempted to take the last win, often throwing the ball on the Knights' back line, but Calvin refused to let anything hit the floor. Senior setter Sara Ahrenholz dumped the ball in the Hornets' open court to tie the game at 10-10. The Knights kept the lead, and the Hornets were unable to respond to sophomore Trisha Balkema's powerful kill down the right sideline to finish off the game. Balkema led the team with 16 kills, while juniors Cassie Christopher and Melissa Pell tallied 13 kills each. Freshman Kara Kuipers added 11 kills to Calvin's dynamic front line. The Knights' aggressive front row was evident in its 68 to 54 attack advantage. Balkema and Christopher teamed up again to protect Calvin's backcourt, Balkema leading with 23 digs and Christopher following close behind with 17 digs. Freshman Kristin DeGroot contributed 14 digs and freshman Katrina Westra defended Calvin territory with 10 more. Ahrenholz, leading the conference with 242 assists, hustled to pitch in 50 more along with 11 digs.

Last Saturday, Calvin traveled to the Dow Center to take on Hope College, pitting them against another team with a 4-0 record in league play. Calvin jumped up to a quick start, leading 18-10 on their way to a victory in the first game of 30-22.

Then ... something happened. Calvin proceeded to drop the next three games 25-30, 22-30, and 27-30. In the fourth game, Calvin battled back from a 19-13 deficit to get within one point at 27-28, but that would be the closest the Knights would come, losing 30-27.

Christopher led Calvin as she tallied 14 kills and four blocks. Balkema chipped in with 12 kills, nine digs, and four blocks, while DeGroot added 11 kills and 13 digs.

On Wednesday night, Calvin dropped a five game decision to Albion College by scores of 30-28, 22-30, 30-27, 8-30, and 15-13. With the loss, Calvin drops to 5-2 in league play, retaining second place in MIAA. Balkema led the Knights with 21 kills, 23 digs, six blocks, and four aces. Christopher followed up with 17 kills and 37 digs while Melissa Pell added 15 kills and eight blocks. On the downbeat, there were 19 serving errors added to the loss.

Calvin will return to action today and tomorrow in the power-packed Wisconsin-Whitewater tournament. The tournament field will feature the third-ranked and three-timed defending national champion Washington of Missouri along with the 17th-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Simpson of Iowa and Wisconsin-River Falls. Calvin will open the tournament with a 4:00 p.m. match against River Falls and will then take on Central at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, Calvin will meet Whitewater at 1:00 p.m. and Simpson at 3:00 p.m.