Calvin Defeats St. Norbert in First Round NCAA III Tourney Match - To Meet Hope in 2nd Round
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Story by Sports Information Student Assistant Andrew Knot/Photo by Paul Evans
The Knights took the first round of the NCAA tournament with a three-set sweep of the Green Knights of St. Norbert, winning by scores of 25-14, 25-19, 25-10.
Calvin rolled to a convincing 25-14 victory in the first set. Senior Erin VanderPlas stepped up for the Knights with an impressive 7 first set kills. The Kamp sisters joined her in dominating the front row. Lizzie Kamp took advantage of a high set in the middle to give the Knights a 15-6 lead. Older sister Rebecca followed that up with a kill run off a slide made possible by a St. Norbert free ball. VanderPlas then dropped a tip inside the 10 foot line and Lizzie Kamp closed out the set with a cross court kill on a hard angle. Calvin hit a remarkable .429 in the first set.
The second set proved a bit tougher than the first. Once again, the Knights took an early lead and scored five points before St. Norbet could get on the board. But the Green Knights tied the set at nine and then 11. The Calvin block then put the Knights back on top. Renee DeHaan and Julia Hilbrands combined for one of their collective seven blocks on the night to increase Calvin’s lead to 17-15. Hilbrands then ran a special option up the middle and placed a kill on the back line to put the Knights up 23-17. By that point, Rietema had set every member of the Knights’ front row for a kill. VanderPlas smashed another kill up the middle to bring the set to set point and the Knights concluded the set by a score of 25-18 off a Rebecca Kamp attack.
Calvin opened up another big lead to start the third set. The Knights owned an 8-1 advantage but the Green Knights were able to chip away at the Calvin lead and bring it to 17-16 before Coach Amber Warners had to call timeout.
Still, the Green Knights played Calvin to a 19-19 tie. Lizzie Kamp then pounded a cross court kill to give Calvin a one point advantage. DeHaan and Hilbrands partnered for another block to put the Knights up by two. Lizzie Kamp dropped a service ace to bring the set to match point and an attack error from St. Norbert sealed the set at 25-20 and gave Calvin a victory in straight sets.
“We started off on fire,” said Warners after the game. “And our defense kept us in it.” Senior Kelly Gordon led the Knights with 22 digs.
“During tournament time, I take it on myself to fire up this team,” said VanderPlas, who finished with a match-high 15 kills and .433 attacking percentage. “I play for this team,” she added before commending Rietema on her setting performance.
With the victory, the Knights advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament to square off with rival Hope for the fourth time this season.
