The Knights volleyball team came into the season ranked No. 2, even after losing a full rotation of graduating women. Senior libero (defensive specialist) Kristi Zietse, senior setter Megan Rietema and the other seven returning letterwinners were up for the challenge.
Calvin started out their season playing in a tournament at the University of Puget Sound against Wartburg, who was ranked 15th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Top 25 poll.
Calvin defeated Wartburg 3-1, led by Rietema with 12 kills and 32 assists. Next was Pacific Lutheran, who was 21st in the AVCA poll. The Knights beat Pacific Lutheran 3-2, coming back from a 0-2 disadvantage. Sophomore Maggie Kamp led the charge for the Knights with 18 kills.
At the same tournament, Calvin played AVCA’s ninth-ranked Puget Sound. Calvin defeated them 3-0, with junior Emily Crowe having 10 kills. Calvin defeated unranked Whitman 3-0 to finish out the tournament.
Calvin then played four conference games, which they won 3-0 each time.
Next was the Wittenberg Fall Classic, where they played sixth-ranked Washington-St. Louis. Calvin won 3-0, led by Kamp with 16 kills. Calvin then defeated Heidelberg and Mt. St. Joseph 3-0.
To wrap up the tournament, Calvin played eighth-ranked Otterbein, beating them 3-0. The team was led by Kamp and Rietema who had 11 and 10 kills respectively. During their run, Calvin moved up in ranking to first in the AVCA poll.
Calvin came home to host second-ranked Hope. The Knights beat the Dutch 3-0, led by Kamp with 16 kills. Zietse had 21 digs. Calvin had six more conference matches, all of which they won handily.
Calvin proceeded to host the Midwest Fall Classic with Hope College. Calvin first faced Mount Union, who was ranked seventh in the AVCA. Calvin won 3-0, led by Kamp with 14 kills.
Next at the tournament was Wittenberg, ranked 13th. Calvin won 3-0, with 12 kills from Kamp. The next day, Calvin played sixth-ranked Elmhurst, led by Zietse with 12 digs and Rietema with 29 assists. Next was 15th-ranked University of Chicago. Kamp had 15 kills with an attack percentage of .517.
Calvin then traveled to Hope, where they lost their first and only game of the year 3-2. Kamp had 16 kills while freshman Laura Danhoff had 15 kills. Calvin finished up the MIAA season winning three more regular season games before heading into the conference tournament.
Calvin had the privilege of hosting the conference tournament this year and defeated St. Mary’s in the first round 3-0. Calvin then played Hope in a five set match which Calvin won 15-7 in the final set.
Calvin won the first round of regionals handily against Penn State-Behrend. Calvin then faced Mount Union and Wittenberg again, winning both games 3-2.
Calvin then moved onto quarterfinals at Hope. They won the first round 3-1. Calvin then played Emory in the semi-final round, winning 3-0. Calvin moved onto the finals where they defeated California Lutheran University 3-2 in a come-from-behind victory.