GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Denison University Big Red volleyball team earned a Saturday split at the MIAA/NCAC Crossover in action Saturday in Michigan. The Big Red downed Albion in five sets before suffering a straight-set defeat to host Calvin.
 
Denison 3, Albion 2 (20-25, 25-14, 21-25, 25-23, 15-11)
 
The Big Red secured a five-set victory over the Britons during the first match of the day. 
 
 Albion jumped out to an early lead in the opening set. The Britons eventually led by as many as seven points before the Big Red used a run to cut the deficit to as few as two points (20-18). Albion regained momentum to record five of the final seven points in the set one win. 
 
Denison controlled the second set from the outset. The Big Red used a kill by Ayla Dunbar to take a 7-3 advantage. The Denison lead moved to nine when a service ace by Ryan Kotalik and an Albion attack error made it 13-4. The Big Red moved its lead into double figures five times during the set. A pair of kills by Cailey Johns near the end of the set helped put the final margin at 25-14 to even the match at 1-1. 
 
Albion moved back in front with a 25-21 win in the third set. The Britons scored seven of the final 10 points after breaking free from an 18-18 tie. A kill and service ace by Katy McCaffrey helped Denison cut the deficit to 23-21. However, Albion picked up the final two points to take the set. 
 
The Big Red used an early run in the fourth set to take control of things. Denison scored eight of nine points to hold a 13-6 lead following an ace by Dunbar. Albion managed to make a run at things and evened the scored two times later in the set. Holding a narrow one-point lead in the final stages of the set, Denison tallied two of the final three points to force a fifth set. 
 
Denison was forced to battle back from an early deficit in the decisive fifth set. Trailing by a 6-3 score, the Big Red tallied five of the next six points to surge into the lead following an ace by Sadie Habeeb. Following a point by Albion, the Big Red put up five of the next six points to lead 13-9 after a kill by Reagan Sass.  Johns later finished off the match with a kill. 
 
Claire Hamilton finished with a season-best 15 kills. Ayla Dunbar recorded 13 kills and 10 digs. Alice Kempf totaled 37 assists. 
 
Defensively, Habeeb finished with 20 digs to pace the Big Red. Bella Bergeron picked up 16 digs.
 
Calvin 3, Denison 0 (9-25, 23-25, 12-25)
The 18th ranked Knights cruised past the Big Red in the final game of the weekend. 
 
The victory moves Calvin to 5-1 overall. Denison drops to 2-4 with the split Saturday. 
 
Denison struggled offensively against Calvin's block. The Knights racked up 14 total blocks during the straight-set win. 
 
Hamilton finished with 10 kills to pace the Big Red. Kempf had 14 assists and 10 digs.
 
Up Next: Denison now returns to Granville where they will play at home for the first time this season. The Big Red welcome Muskingum University to Livingston Gymnasium on Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.