With unbeaten weeks by #1 Calvin and #7 Hope, the stage is set for the first of two contest between two of the nation's top volleyball programs when Hope entertains the Knights Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m. Among last week's notables:
• #1 Calvin found favor in the ace last week, as the Knights had 32 service aces in its two MIAA wins. Against Kalamazoo Sept. 23, Keilahna Castillo (So., L, Grandville, Mich.) rattled off seven aces in Calvin's three-set victory. The Knights rallied against Alma Sept 24, picking up the pace after dropping the opening set to finish with a 3-1 victory at the Scots. Laura Danhoff (Sr., OH, Willard, Ohio) and Anna Kamp (So., OH, Orland Park, Ill.) combined for 35 of Calvin's 53 kills; six players had a hand in the Knights' notching 15 service aces. With their win at Alma, Calvin takes a streak of 20 consecutive road wins into Wednesday's match at #7 Hope.
• #7 Hope went 3-0 against MIAA challengers for the week, fending off Adrian in five sets Sept. 24 to set up Wednesday's match between MIAA unbeatens. The Dutch started with a 3-0 win at Trine Sept. 20, with Katie Rietberg (So., OH, Holland, Mich.) swinging for a match-best 10 kills. In their three-set win over Saint Mary's Sept. 23, Sarah Feldpausch (Sr., OH, White Cloud, Mich.) blasted a then-season-high 13 kills before upping her total to 18 kills in the five-set win over Adrian Sept. 24. Sophia Hackett (Jr., S, Indianapolis, Ind.) had a double-double with a season-high 50 assists with 15 digs.
• Adrian went 2-1 on the week, with their lone loss coming at #7 Hope, a five-set back-and-forth contest Sept. 24. In that match, the Bulldogs held Hope to .172 hitting, as Haley Mellon (Jr., DS, Adrian, Mich.) gathered 20 digs. Margo Joubran (Sr., RS, Mount Morris, Mich.) had a match-high 19 kills. The day previous, Adrian ended their home losing streak to Alma with a three-set victory Sept. 23. Joubran was the match leader in kills with 16 to pace the Bulldogs, who hit .257 on the day. The Bulldogs started the week with a convincing three-set win at Kalamazoo Sept. 20, hitting .327 on the shoulders of 17 kills by Joubran; Cassadine Reed (Sr., MH, Southfield, Mich.) was even more impressive, notching 10 kills on 13 attempts with no errors.
• Albion's 2-0 week extended their winning streak to four matches and moved the Brits up in the MIAA standings. Albion defeated Olivet Sept. 20, 3-1, with Lauren Outwater (Sr., OH, Coldwater, Mich.) posting 16 kills. Against Trine Sept. 24, Outwater was one of three to notch double-figures in kills; Taylor Rosenthal (So., OH, Vicksburg, Mich.) led with 12, followed by Outwater's 11 and 10 kills by Stephanie Thurner (Sr., MH, Caledonia, Mich.).
• Saint Mary's also went 2-1 for the week, the lone hiccup coming at nationally-ranked Hope Sept. 23. The Belles defeated Alma Sept. 20, 3-0, with Meaghan Gibbons (Sr., LS, Dallas, Texas) churning out 12 kills. Saint Mary's rebounded from their three-set loss to Hope with a sweep of Olivet Sept. 24; Gibbons again led the way with a match-best 12 kills.
School |
MIAA |
Overall |
|---|---|---|
| #1 Calvin | 6-0 | 12-0 |
| #7 Hope | 6-0 | 13-1 |
| Adrian | 4-2 | 8-6 |
| Saint Mary's (Ind.) | 3-3 | 6-7 |
| Albion | 2-4 | 8-6 |
| Olivet | 2-4 | 6-8 |
| Alma | 2-5 | 6-6 |
| Trine | 2-5 | 2-14 |
| Kalamazoo | 1-5 | 3-10 |
Team |
Opponents/Results |
|
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at Kalamazoo Sept. 20 - W, 3-0 Recap vs. Alma Sept. 23 - W, 3-0 Recap at #7 Hope Sept. 24 - L, 3-2 Recap |
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vs. Olivet Sept. 20 - W, 3-1 Recap at Trine Sept. 24 - W, 3-0 Recap |
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at Saint Mary's Sept. 20 - L, 3-0 Recap at Adrian Sept. 23 - L, 3-0 Recap vs. #1 Calvin Sept. 24 - L, 3-1 Recap |
#1 Calvin (12-0, 6-0) |
vs. Kalamazoo Sept. 23 - W, 3-0 Recap at Alma Sept. 24 - W, 3-1 Recap |
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at Trine Sept. 20 - W, 3-0 Recap vs. Saint Mary's Sept. 23 - W, 3-0 Recap vs. Adrian Sept. 24 - W, 3-2 Recap |
Kalamazoo (3-10, 1-5) |
vs. Adrian Sept. 20 - L, 3-0 Recap at #1 Calvin Sept. 23 - L, 3-0 Recap |
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at Albion Sept. 20 - L, 3-1 Recap vs. Trine Sept. 23 - W, 3-0 Recap at Saint Mary's Sept. 24 - L, 3-0 Recap |
Saint Mary's (6-7, 3-3) |
vs. Alma Sept. 20 - W, 3-0 Recap at #7 Hope Sept. 23 - L, 3-0 Recap vs. Olivet Sept. 24 - W, 3-0 Recap |
Trine (2-14, 2-5) |
vs. #7 Hope Sept. 20 - L, 3-0 Recap at Olivet Sept. 23 - L, 3-0 Recap vs. Albion Sept. 24 - L, 3-0 Recap |
