The No. 2-ranked Calvin College volleyball team (30-4) was unable to repeat as national champions despite a strong effort, as the Knights fell in the semifinal round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship at Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Knights saw their season end with a tough 3-0 setback to Wittenberg Nov. 17 in the National Semifinals. Wittenberg came out hot, hitting .429 in the first set and .327 for the match on the way to a 25-19, 25-20, 25-17 win over Calvin. Leading the Knights was Anna Kamp's nine kills and 11 digs, while Jenna Lodewyk added 22 assists and 11 digs.
Calvin started the week with a three-set victory over Johnson & Wales in the National Quarterfinals. The Knights held Johnson and Wales to .096 hitting while attacking at .218 on the way to their 25-21, 25-19, 26-24 win. Sarah DeVries had a match-high 19 kills while Keilahna Castillo had team bests of 19 digs and two service aces.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won the 2017 NCAA Volleyball Championship with a 3-0 win over Wittenberg in the Nov. 18 final.
Tournament links
NCAA Division III Volleyball page
2017 NCAA Division III Volleyball bracket announcement
2017 NCAA Division III Volleyball interactive bracket
