Calvin Advances to Regional Final With Win Over Millikin

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Calvin Knights used a 6-1 run to close out a huge Game 4 rally and advance to the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional Tournament championship match, defeating Millikin University, 3-1.

The Knights, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Tournament champions, improved to 30-8 overall with the 30-26, 30-15, 26-30, 30-26 win. This is Calvin's first 30-win season since 1995 and the Knights' first berth in the regional title match since 1997, when they upset third-ranked Wittenberg in the semifinals on this same HPER Center court before losing to Ohio Northern in the championship match.

Millikin, the No. 7 seed in the regional, bowed out of the tournament with a 29-10 overall record. The Big Blue had advanced to the semifinals with a Friday win over second-seeded Capital.

Offensively, the Knights, who defeated Hiram 3-0 on Friday to reach the semifinals, were paced by Lorilyn Vogel with 19 kills, leading three players in double figures for kills. Christine Hendricks added 15 kills and Katie Schultz chipped in with 13. Katie Zondervan was credited with 59 assists and Sarah Ernst came off the bench to contribute four key service aces, including two in a row to close Game 1.

Defensively, Calvin put four players in double figures for digs, led by Lauren DeGroot with 24. Molly Krikke was tremendous on the frontline, contributing three solo blocks and seven total blocks, including three in an eight-point run that clinched Game 2.

Millikin was paced on offense by Jamie Florey with 19 kills, but the Big Blue were hurt by 25 attack errors that led to a .180 team attack percentage for the match. Defensively, Sam Synowiecki led with 27 digs and Katie Crumley added 21, while Kate Schnake added a team-best five blocks to her 10 kills in the match.

Third-seeded Calvin will take on the winner of tonight's second semifinal between No. 1 seed Wittenberg and No. 5 seed Ohio Northern at 7 p.m. Saturday. The winner advances to the national quarterfinals on Nov. 17 in Salem, Va.

2005 NCAA Great Lakes Regional Tournament Home Page