OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Calvin (32-1) will play for its third NCAA Division III volleyball title in seven seasons after the Knights dispatched No. 18 Northwestern (Minn.) 3-0 Friday evening in the semifinal round of the 2016 NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament at the Kolf Sports Center.
Calvin, the 2010 and 2013 national champions, make their fourth title match appearance in seven years after finishing as runners-up in 2012. The Knights will face No. 16 Washington-St. Louis, who rolled past Southwestern (Texas) 3-0 in the late semifinal.
The Knights needed extra points to seal the first set, 28-26, after UNW had three set-point opportunities; Calvin's Laura Danhoff pounded the last two kills of the set to lift the Knights. Danhoff finished with a match-best 19 kills on a .447 attack percentage.
Calvin prevailed in the final two sets, winning the second 25-18, before capping the night with a 25-17 third-set win. On the night, Calvin hit .311 to Northwestern's .211; Jenna Lodewyk drove the offense with 42 assists.
Sarah DeVries added 12 kills, while Tessa Van Laare and Anna Kamp added nine kills apiece. Keilhana Castillo and Emily Blankespoor had 12 and 11 digs, repsectively, to aid the Calvin team effort.
Tournament links
NCAA Division III Volleyball page
2016 NCAA Division III Volleyball interactive bracket
Calvin recap
