Box Score GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Albion College executed its game plan and played its scrappy style, but it wasn't enough to topple third-ranked Calvin College in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Volleyball Tournament semifinal.
Calvin turned back Albion 25-22, 25-15, 25-16.
"We played gritty, fundamentally sound, but we just couldn't score enough," Albion Head Coach Kristin de St. Aubin said.
"There were lots of long rallies. I was impressed by our ability to respond after they got a big kill and our side out game was so much improved, especially against a nationally ranked opponent," de St. Aubin added.
Taylor Rosenthal terminated consecutive points as Albion surged to a 4-2 lead in the first set. Rachel Zawodny served up an ace – the 126th of her career to move into second place on Albion's all-time list – and Rosenthal added another kill as the Britons led 14-9.
Anna Kamp produced a kill and assisted on a block to help Calvin reel off four points to pull within one.
The margin remained close, with Albion leading 21-20 when Rosenthal and Marie Pregenzer combined for a block.
Calvin scored five of the final six points to win the first set.
Calvin started the second and third sets with long scoring runs.
Rosenthal, an all-MIAA second team pick, finished with 11 kills while hitting .364.
First-year setter Grace VanDorn, also an all-MIAA second team pick, dished out 23 assists. She finished the season with 1,102 assists, most in a season at Albion.
Monica Shuk, the MIAA's Defensive Player of the Year and an all-MIAA first team pick, picked up 10 of Albion's 39 digs. She finished the season with 505 digs, fifth-most in a season at Albion.
Sarah DeVries led Calvin with 20 kills and a pair of block assists. Kamp added 16 kills and two block assists. Emily Blankespoor served six aces.
Follow the Britons on Twitter: @AlbionVball
