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Women’s tennis concludes spring break trip with a pair of defeats
Friday, March 22, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ORLANDO, FL – The Calvin women’s tennis team finished up a match with Hamilton College (NY) Fri. after rain delayed the match on Wed. The Knights also faced Grinnell College (IA) on the same day. Calvin fell to Hamilton 6-3 in the morning and dropped a 7-2 decision to Grinnell in the afternoon. In the match with the Continentals of Hamilton, Calvin won two of the first three doubles matches, but could muster only one singles victory. In doubles, the Calvin first doubles team of junior Bethany Zoerhof (Holland/Holland Christian) and sophomore Megan Visser (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) won a tight set with Liz Detwiler and Meg Lee 9-7. Seniors Jordan Ipema (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) and Elise Doezema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) fell to Mira Khanna and Bella Schoning 8-2 at second doubles. Sophomores Ali Roode (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) and Samantha Reitsma (Grand Rapids/Northpointe Christian) defeated Aislinn Shea and Melissa Mann 8-5 at third doubles. Calvin’s lone singles win came at first singles. Visser defeated Khanna 6-3, 7-6(6). The fifth and six singles flights were close matches. Rachel Friedman defeated Reitsma 6-4, 6-3 at fifth singles. Shea beat Doezema in a three set thriller by scores of 6-3, 4-6, 10-7. In the match with the Pioneers of Grinnell, Calvin won one of the three doubles flights as well as one of the six singles flights. Shirlene Luk and Clothilde Thirouin defeated Zoerhof and Visser 8-4 at first doubles. Laura Krull and Catherine Fitch defeated Ipema and Doezema 8-2 at second doubles. Roode and Reitsma defeated Emma MacDonald and Julia Rumley 8-6 at third doubles. All six singles flights needed only two sets to complete. The Knights’ lone victory came from Doezema, who defeated Emily Groth 6-2, 6-1. Calvin ends its spring break trip with a 0-5 record. The Knights open up their conference season with a match against Albion on Mar. 26 slated to start at 4:00 p.m.
Women’s tennis falls to William Smith 7-2
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ORLANDO, FL - After a matchup with Hamilton College was postponed due to rain, the Knights took to the courts Thurs., Mar. 21, for a match against William Smith (NY). The Herons defeated the Knights 7-2. Calvin was able to win one of the three doubles matches. Seniors Elise Doezema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) and Jordan Ipema (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) defeated Remy Raevsky and Hallsey Leighton 8-6. Kiara Ocasio and Teru Greene defeated Calvin junior Bethany Zoerhof (Holland/Holland Christian) and sophomore Megan Visser (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) 8-5 at first doubles. Kate O’Connor and Casey Nicoletti defeated sophomores Ali Roode (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) and Samantha Reitsma (Grand Rapids/Northpointe Christian) 8-2 at third doubles. All six singles flights needed only two sets to complete. Unfortunately for the Knights, five of them went to the Herons. Calvin’s lone victory in singles same from the fifth singles flight. Reitsma outlasted Sydney Arsenault 7-5, 7-5. Visser came close to winning a set against Greene at first singles, but suffered a 7-5, 6-4 defeat. Calvin concludes its spring break trip Fri., Mar. 22, against Grinnell College.
Men’s tennis defeats Lawrence University 6-3
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ORLANDO, FL - The Calvin men’s tennis team improved to .500 on its spring break trip by defeated Lawrence University (WI) Tues., March 19. Calvin won two of the three doubles flights, and won four of six singles flights to win the match. Jason Dunn and Max Zlevor defeated Calvin seniors Phil Reinken (Morton, IL/Morton HS) and Preston Phillips (Bexley, OH/Bexley) 8-5 for the Vikings’ lone doubles point at first doubles. Senior Brian Demaagd (Grandville/Calvin Christian) and junior Loukus Peterson (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood HS) dispatched Cooper Smith and Jeremy Andererck 8-2 at second doubles. Former Holland Christian standouts senior Jarrod Brower (Holland/Holland Christian) and junior John Strikwerda (Holland/.Holland Christian) pulled out a 9-8(5) victory over Craig Sherwood and Brian DeCorte at third doubles. Calvin won the top two singles flights. DeMaagd defeated Smith 6-1, 6-1 at first singles while Phillips outlasted Dunn 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 at second singles. Peterson and Brower won at fourth and fifith singles without surrendering more than two games in a set. Calvin’s spring break trip continues Thurs., March 21, when the Knights take on Knox College (IL).
Women’s tennis drops two during first day of spring trip
Monday, March 18, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ORLANDO, FL – The Calvin women’s tennis team dropped its first two contests of the spring break trip, falling 6-3 to Puget Sound (OR) and 5-4 to Otterbein (OH). In the match against the Loggers of Puget Sound, the Knights fell behind early, losing all three doubles flights. Maddie Thiese and Allison Embernate defeated sophomore Megan Visser (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) and junior Bethany Zoerhof (Holland/Holland Christian) 9-7 at first doubles. Logan Thompson and Marissa Friedman defeated seniors Jordan Ipema (Kalamazoo/Kalamazoo Christian) and Elise Doezema (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian) 8-2 at second doubles. Jenna Gersen and Josie Dow defeated sophomores Samantha Reitsma (Grand Rapids/Northpointe Christian) and Ali Roode (Hudsonville/Unity Christian) 8-6 in the third doubles flight. Calvin split the six singles flights, winning first, third and fifth singles. Visser defeated Thiese 6-3, 6-2 at first singles. Roode pulled out a three set victory, defeating Thompson 6-3, 2-6, 10-7 at third singles. Reitsma defeated Dow 6-1, 7-5 at fifth singles. Doezema came close to defeating Embernate at sixth singles, but fell in three sets by scores of 5-7. 7-5, 10-3. In the matchup against Otterbein, Calvin fell behind 2-1 after the doubles. Julie Stroyne and Sammi Kruger defeated Visser and Zoerhof 8-3 at first doubles. Emma Krummel and Adrien Leatherwood defeated the Calvin duo of Ipema and Doezema 8-6. The Knights’ lone win in doubles came from Roode and Reitsma defeating Kelsey Leachko and Emily Harper 8-2. Calvin split the six singles flights. Roode defeated Alana Cheplowitz 6-1, 6-4 at third singles. Zoerhof defeated Krummel 7-6(0), 6-2 at fourth singles. Doezema defeated Leadko 6-1, 6-4 at sixth singles. Calvin continues its spring break trip Mar. 20, when it faces Hamilton.
Men’s tennis defeated 6-3 by Oglethorpe University
Monday, March 18, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
ORLANDO, FL - The Calvin men’s tennis team began its spring break trip with a 6-3 loss to Ogelthorpe University (GA) 6-3 on Mon. afternoon. All three doubles flights were close, but saw the Stormy Petrels taking two of the doubles flights from the Knights. Calvin seniors Preston Phillips (Bexley, OH/Bexley) and Phil Reinken (Morton, IL/Morton HS) defeated Ethan Motz and Nick Roby 8-6 at the first singles flight. Bryan Bailey and CJ Antonio defeated the Calvin second doubles team of senior Brian Demaagd (Grandville/Calvin Christian) and junior Loukus Peterson (Brentwood, TN/Brentwood HS) by a score of 8-6. Former high school teammates senior Jarrod Brower (Holland/Holland Christian) and sophomore John Strikwerda (Holland/Holland Christian) fell in a tiebreak 9-8(7-1) at the third doubles flight. Calvin needed to win four of the six singles flights to win the match, but could muster just two wins. DeMaagd defeated Motz 7-5, 6-3 at the first singles flight. Peterson picked up the other Calvin victory at the four singles flight 6-2, 0-6 (10-4) over Kirk Zhao. Reinken was able to take his match to a third set, but after winning the first 6-1, Reinken was unable to win another game, and fell 6-0, 6-0 in the final two sets. Calvin continues its spring break trip tomorrow, Tues., March 19, when it takes on Lawrence.
Women’s Lacrosse edges Hope 10-9 to earn first varsity victory
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
CALEDONIA, Mich. - After narrowly missing out on its first victory in a quadruple overtime 11-10 loss to the College of Mount Saint Joseph last Sat., the Calvin women’s lacrosse team was not to be denied in a non-conference matchup with Hope on Thurs. evening. The Knights held off a late run from the Flying Dutch, defeated their rival 10-9 to earn the program’s first win as a varsity sport. Hope’s Maddie Ferguson led all scorers with five goals in defeat. Katie Pranger scored four goals. Nicole Perregaux added two goals while four different Knights netted one. The Knights scooped up 18 ground balls and won 10 draw controls. Calvin senior goalie Lauren Spoelstra (Oakland, NJ/Eastern Christian) was credited with 10 saves.
Calvin Holds MIAA Commissioner’s Cup Standings Lead
Monday, March 11, 2013
Calvin College holds the lead in the latest set of MIAA Commissioner’s Cup standings as well as in the standings for the MIAA Men’s and Women’s All-Sports Awards. Calvin has a first place total of 147 points in the MIAA Commissioner’s Cup standings with Hope second with 126 points. In the men’s individual (all-sports) standings, Calvin has 68 points with Hope second with 56 points. In the women’s individual (all-sports) standings, Calvin has 79 points with Hope second with 70 points. This year, Calvin has captured nine MIAA regular season championships, winning league titles in men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s golf, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s swimming and diving.
Women’s Lacrosse falls 16-4 to Davenport in first game as varsity sport
Thursday, March 07, 2013
Story by Mitch Blankespoor
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The Calvin women’s lacrosse team made its varsity debut on Thursday afternoon as it traveled to nearby Davenport University for a non-conference contest. The Panthers defeated the Knights 16-4 at Davenport’s Turf Field. Calvin goals were scored by Katie Pranger (Denver, CO/Denver Christian), Michelle Holwerda (Grand Rapids/Grand Rapids Christian), Lissa Busscher (Holland/Holland Christian) and Carolyn Forbes (Farmington Hills/Marion). As a team, Calvin was outshot 33-10. Senior goalkeeper Lauren Spoelstra (Oakland, NJ/Eastern Christian) was credited with nine saves. Both teams committed 19 turnovers. Davenport held the advantage in ground balls (19-12) and draw controls (13-9). Calvin (0-1, 0-0 MIAA) returns to action Sat., March 9, when it travels to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a game with the College of Mount Saint Joseph. The game is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. EST.
Brian Diemer Named USTFCCCA Division III Great Lakes Assistant Women’s T & F Coach of Year
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
USTFCCCA Regional Awards Announcement
Calvin College distance coach Brian Diemer has been named the Division III Great Lakes Regional Assistant Coach of the Year in women’s track and field by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association. Diemer, specializing in coaching distance events, will be sending Nicole Michmerhuizen, the fourth-ranked DIII runner at 5000 meters (16:58.03) to the NCAA Championships to represent Calvin. Under his guidance the Calvin women’s distance medley relay was ranked No. 12 nationally and first in region. It marks the second regional coach of the year award for Diemer this academic year. In November, he was named the Division III Great Lakes Regional Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA.
Carissa Verkaik Named Finalist for Jostens Trophy
Monday, March 04, 2013
D3hoops.com Announcement of Jostens Trophy Finalists
For the second consecutive year, Calvin College senior Carissa Verkaik Verkaik has been named one of 11 women’s finalists for the Jostens Trophy which is presented by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. The Jostens Trophy is awarded to an outstanding Division III men’s and women’s basketball player who excels on the floor, in the classroom and in the community. The Salem Rotary Club Jostens Trophy Committee employs a numerical rating to narrow the list of finalists so that the decision can be made on the most objective basis possible.Last year, Aris Wurtz of Ripon and Taylor Simpson of Chicago took home the trophies. A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik has been a leader on the basketball court, in the classroom and in the community. As a basketball player, she was recently named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player for the fourth straight year. She averaged 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks a game. She completed her career as Calvin’s all-time leader in points (2,236), rebounds (1,071) and blocked shots (440). She is now currently ranked third on the all-time NCAA III women’s basketball list in blocked shots and 14th in points.