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Amber Warners Named AVCA Division III Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year
Thursday, November 08, 2012
For the second consecutive year and for the fourth time in her career, Calvin head volleyball coach Amber Warners has been named the Division III Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. A native of Holland, Warners has continued her success into her 11th year as head coach of the Calvin College volleyball team. The Knights finished the 2012 season 28-2, sweeping through their conference with a 16-0 record and claiming the MIAA Conference Championship. They head into the NCAA Tournament ranked in the top spot in the latest AVCA Coaches Poll.Warners is currently in her 12th year as a head collegiate volleyball coach which includes 11 years at Calvin and one year as interim coach at Hope (1994). Heading into the weekend, Warners is 345-70 (.831) as a collegiate volleyball coach and 324-59 (.846) at Calvin. Heading into the 2012 season, Warners was ranked second among active Division III coaches among winning percentage and 14th among all coaches at any NCAA (I, II or III) level.Warners also won the Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year Award in 2006 and 2008 as well as last year.
Calvin Volleyball Players Receive Great Lakes All-Region Honors
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Two members of the Calvin women’s volleyball team have been named to the AVCA Division III Great Lakes All-Region team and are now eligible for AVCA Division III All-America consideration. Those two individuals are senior Lizzie Kamp and junior Megan Rietema. In addition, freshman Maggie Kamp has received AVCA Division III Great Lakes All-Region honorable mention recognition.
Calvin Volleyball Team Heads Into NCAA III Tournament Play as Nation’s Top-Ranked Team
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
The Calvin volleyball team will head into NCAA III Tournament play as the top-ranked team in the country. The Knights have received the number one ranking in the final regular season Division III Top 25 poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association earlier today. The Knights received 17 first place votes to take over the top spot from Washington University (Mo.). Calvin was ranked second last week. It marks the first time since last year that the Knights have been ranked number one. A year ago, Calvin held the number one ranking throughout the entire regular season before falling in the NCAA III Regional final to Wittenberg University, finishing the season at 33-1. Calvin is preparing to host an NCAA III Regional Tournament of eight teams this Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Of the eight teams, five are nationally-ranked including four in the top 10. Ranked teams competing in the regional tournament at Calvin include: Mount Union (#13), Otterbein (#10), Hope (#6), Wittenberg (#2) and Calvin (#1).
NCAA III Regional Website at Calvin
Maggie Kamp and Kelly Gordon Receive MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week Honors
Monday, November 05, 2012
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Calvin outside hitter Maggie Kamp its Position Player of the Week and Calvin libero Kelly Gordon its Specialty Player of the Week in volleyball for matches played through November 3. Kamp, a freshman from Orland Park, Ill. (Chicago Christian HS), slammed 34 kills and had an attack percentage of .368 in leading Calvin to the MIAA tournament championship. In the championship match against Hope, she led the Knights with 19 kills as the Knights rallied to win the match in five sets. Kamp is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time in her career. 
Gordon, a senior from Caledonia (Grand Rapids South Christian HS), played a pivotal role defensively in Calvin’s run to the MIAA tournament championship, leading the Knights with 30 digs in their two matches. She had 18 digs to lead Calvin in the championship match against Hope. It’s the second Player of the Week honor in Gordon’s career, with the other coming after last year’s MIAA tournament.
Calvin to Host Eight Team NCAA III Volleyball Regional
Monday, November 05, 2012
The Calvin women’s volleyball team will host an eight-team NCAA III regional November 8-10 at Calvin’s Van Noord Arena. Joining Calvin at the regional will be Wittenberg (Oh.), Ohio Northern (Oh.), Otterbein (Oh.), Hope (Mich.), Mount Union (Oh.), Medaille (New York) and Heidelberg (Oh.). First round match ups on November 8 will feature Wittenberg (25-4) against Ohio Northern (23-6), Otterbein (26-7) against Hope (28-4), Mount Union (26-6) against Medaille (16-12) and Heidelberg (19-14) against Calvin (28-2). Wittenberg will face Ohio Northern at 12:30 p.m. EST. Otterbein will play Hope at 3:00 p.m. EST. Mount Union will play Medaille at 5:30 p.m. EST. Heidelberg will face host Calvin at 8:00 p.m. EST. Calvin will be making its 22nd NCAA III Tournament appearance including its ninth consecutive under head coach Amber Warners. The Knights are 28-22 all-time in NCAA III Tournament Play.
Volleyball Defeats Hope in Five Sets, Wins MIAA Tournament Title
Saturday, November 03, 2012
GRAND RAPIDS – The Calvin women’s volleyball team was pushed to the brink in the MIAA Tournament Final vs. Hope College Saturday evening. The Knights defeated the Flying Dutch in five sets by scores of 25-18, 22-25, 24-26, 25-23, 15-11 to earn the MIAA’s automatic bid to the NCAA III Volleyball Tournament. The Knights were led by Maggie Kamp who had a career-high 19 kills on 48 attack attempts. Lizzie Kamp had 18 kills. Sophomore Emily Crowe (Granger, IN/Mishawaka Penn) led Calvin with six blocks. Rietema dished out 50 assists. Hope was led by a trio of attackers, Mari Schoolmaster, Anna Lynch and Nicole George recorded 15 kills. George also tallied six blocks. Bratschie dished out 54 assists in defeat. After the match, five Knights earned All-MIAA honors. Emily Crowe and Maggie Kamp were named to the second team. Julia HIlbrands, Megan Rietema, and Lizzie Kamp were named to the first team. In addition, Maggie Kamp was named MIAA Freshman of the Year and Lizzie Kamp was named MIAA Most Valuable Player.Calvin earns the MIAA automatic bid to the NCAA III Volleyball Tournament. The field will be announced at 11 a.m. Monday morning.
Volleyball Defeats Trine 3-0, Will Face Hope Saturday for MIAA Tournament Crown
Friday, November 02, 2012
By Jordan Brink
GRAND RAPIDS - The Calvin College volleyball team defeated Trine University in the semifinals of the MIAA Conference Tournament on Friday evening with scores of 25-16, 25-17, 27-25. The Knights will play Hope College tomorrow for the MIAA Tournament Championship. Calvin’s attack was led by sisters Lizzie and Maggie Kamp (Orland Park, IL/Chicago Christian) with 15 kills each. Junior setter Megan Rietema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) dished out 35 assists and defensive specialists Kelly Gordon (Caledonia/South Christian) and Kristen Zietse (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) anchored the back row with 12 and 10 digs respectively. The Knights with play the fourth-ranked Flying Dutch of Hope College (27-3, 14-2) tomorrow evening at 5 p.m. in the MIAA Tournament Championship game. The Flying Dutch took down Alma College in the other semi-final match in straight sets with scores of 25-9, 25-18, 25-9.
Volleyball Blanks Albion, Will Host Trine in MIAA Tournament
Saturday, October 27, 2012
ALBION – The Calvin College volleyball team concluded the regular season Saturday with a straight set victory over the Britons of Albion College by scores of 25-15, 25-11, 25-15. The win for the Knights is their 36th straight MIAA conference victory.Calvin was led offensively by Lizzie Kamp, who scored 16 kills on just 26 attempts. She hit a blistering .538 on the match. Senior Julia Hilbrands (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) chipped in nine kills and four blocks, two of the solo variety. Rietema dished out 29 assists. Calvin totaled 48 digs and seven blocks as a team.Albion was led on senior day by Lauren DeLuyck with six kills. With its win, Calvin improves to 26-2 and 16-0 in the MIAA on the season. This tournament Warners speaks of will be hosted by Calvin. Second seeded Hope will play third seeded Alma on Friday at 5:30 at the Van Noord Arena. Top seeded Calvin will face fourth seeded Trine at 7:30.
Volleyball Defeats Saint Mary’s 3-0, Wins MIAA Title Outright
Friday, October 26, 2012
GRAND RAPIDS – The Calvin College volleyball team won the MIAA Conference Championship outright Friday evening defeating the Saint Mary’s Belles in straight sets by scores of 25-10, 25-20, 25-16.Calvin, ranked second in the country in the most recent AVCA Division III Poll, came out of the gates hot. With the win, the Knights captured the MIAA Championship outright for the second straight year. Calvin heads into its final regular season game against Albion Saturday. The Knights bring with them a 35-match MIAA winning streak. The matchup at Albion is slated to start at 3 p.m.
Volleyball Clinches Share of MIAA Regular Season Title and Top Seed For Upcoming MIAA Tournament
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
By Jordan Brink
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Calvin College women’s volleyball team improved its conference record to 14-0 with a win over Trine University on Wednesday night. The Knights battled and pulled out a three set victory defeating the Thunder 25-19, 25-16, 25-18. With this win, Calvin clinched a share of the MIAA regular season title and also secured the top seed for the MIAA Tournament. The MIAA title is Calvin’s third straight including its fifth under current head coach Amber Warners. The title is also the 19th in Calvin women’s volleyball history – more than any other MIAA school.Calvin will play its final home game of the regular season on Friday evening when it faces off against Saint Mary’s College at 7 p.m. at Van Noord Arena.
