Calvin’s Aerin Baker blasted kills on the final two points to seal a stunning five-set win over No. 2 Illinois Wesleyan to claim the NCAA Division III regional title.
The No. 22 Knights, who have defeated No. 7 Hope and No. 13 Wisconsin-Whitewater this week, will advance to the NCAA Division III Championships where they will play in the national quarterfinals.
Baker, an all-MIAA and all-region outside hitter, blasted a kill to put Calvin up 14-13 and force a match point, which she also put down.
Sarah Bradley kicked a ball to keep it in play and it ended up a Baker kill and a 6-6 tie.
But Illinois Wesleyan got the next three points to take the momentum.
A block from Emma Ekblow then one from Bradley pulled the Knights within 9-8.
Caralee Schipper put down a kill to tie the fifth set 11-11.
The Knights went up 13-12 when an Illinois Wesleyan spike went long.
Calvin won the first set 25-22 before losing the next two 25-15 and 25-22. The Knights then rallied to take the fourth set 25-20 and force a fifth.
Baker (Saugatuck) finished with eight kills. Schipper and Ekblow each had 12. Ekblow also continued her blocking prowess with eight and was named Regional MVP. Baker and Bradley made the all-tournament team.
Calvin’s Tryna Vander Zwaag (Holland Christian), the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, had a match-high 27 digs.
Calvin will await its opponent after reseeding and head to the quarterfinals on Dec. 3 against Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Bloomington, Illinois.
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Baker powers Calvin volleyball to NCAA regional with five-set upset
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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