Volleyball to travel to Costa Rica
The Kalamazoo College Volleyball Team will travel to San Jose, Costa Rica in June 2012. Please consider supporting this trip which will allow us to link our athletic and academic experiences in ways that have never been done. This will bring greater meaning and purpose into both our team experience and that which we learn through the K-Plan. We will practice and play volleyball while also doing homestays with host families along with service in San Jose with the International Center for Development Studies’ community partners. Click here to learn more and donate

Colleen Leonard, Autumn Cussen earn All-MIAA Volleyball honors
Colleen Leonard and Autumn Cussen were recognized with All-MIAA Volleyball honors on Saturday, Nov. 5. Colleen Leonard was selected to the All-MIAA First Team. Autumn Cussen was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-MIAA Second Team honors.

Leonard, a senior from Mason (Mason HS), earned All-MIAA First Team honors for the second straight year. She was a second-team selection in 2009. In conference matches this season, Leonard ranked fourth in the MIAA with 3.49 kills per set. She led the league with 213 total kills. Leonard also recorded 12 assists, nine service aces, 20 blocks and 127 digs.

Cussen, a senior from Lake Odessa (Lakewood HS), led the MIAA with 4.19 digs per set (257 total). Cussen also recorded 25 assists and 17 service aces. Kalamazoo tied for fifth place in the MIAA with a 9-7 league record.

Volleyball wins final home game 3-2 over Albion
The volleyball team defeated Albion 3-2 in the Hornets' final home game of the 2011 season on Saturday, Oct. 29. After winning the first set 25-15, Albion rallied to win the next two sets 25-23 and 25-23. Albion led the fourth set 10-3 early and held a 19-17 lead late in the set, but Kalamazoo came back to win 25-21. Kalamazoo led the fifth set 7-3 before an Albion run made it 7-6. After a Kalamazoo timeout the Hornets outscored Albion 8-1 the rest of the way to win the final set 15-7. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 24 kills and 13 digs. Quinn McCormick added 13 kills and four block assists. Kelsey Hill had 10 kills. Alex Gothard had 53 assists and 10 digs. Autumn Cussen had 24 digs while Courtney Nartker added 23 digs with seven kills. Box Score

Volleyball wins 3-1 at Adrian
The volleyball team won 3-1 (25-19, 19-25, 25-15, 27-25) at Adrian on Friday, Oct. 28. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 17 kills. Kelsey Hill added 14 kills and five block assists. Alex Gothard had 39 assists. Autumn Cussen had a team-high 23 digs. Kalamazoo improved to 8-7 in the MIAA with the win. The Hornets host Albion in the final home game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. Box Score

Volleyball falls at #14 Hope
The volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-19, 26-24, 25-13) at #14 Hope on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Kalamazoo led by as many as four points (18-14) in the second set and even led 24-23, but the Flying Dutch came back to win the set, 26-24. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 10 kills. Johanna Kupe had seven kills while Quinn McCormick added six kills. Alex Gothard had 26 assists and 13 digs. Autumn Cussen recorded 19 digs. The Hornets return to action on Friday, Oct. 28 at Adrian at 7 p.m. Box Score

Colleen Leonard named MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week
Colleen Leonard, a senior from Mason (Mason HS), was selected as the MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 24. Leonard had 50 kills and 44 digs in leading the Hornets to a 2-1 record in MIAA matches for the week. She had double-double performances in all three matches – 17 kills and 15 digs in a four-set win over Olivet, 15 kills and 17 digs in a narrow five-set loss to Alma, and 18 kills and 12 digs in a five-set win over Trine. Leonard is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time this season and second time in her career.

Volleyball defeats Trine in five sets
The Kalamazoo College volleyball team defeated Trine 3-2 on Saturday, Oct. 22. Kalamazoo won the first set 25-18 before narrowly losing the second set, 27-25. Kalamazoo won the third set 25-21, but Trine came back again to win the fourth set, 25-22. The Hornets won the fifth set 15-9 to win the match. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 18 kills and 12 digs. Johanna Kupe had ten kills while Quinn McCormick and Courtney Nartker each had nine kills. Alex Gothard had 42 assists. Autumn Cussen had 24 digs while Nartker and Kelsey Hill each had five blocks. Kalamazoo begins the final week of the regular season with a match at Hope on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Box Score

Volleyball battles Alma in five-set match
The volleyball team lost 3-2 to Alma in front of an energetic crowd in Anderson Athletic Center on Friday, Oct. 21. Kalamazoo won the first two sets (25-23, 26-24), before the Scots evened the match with wins in sets three and four (25-16, 25-14). The decisive fifth set was tied 6-6 before Alma took a four-point lead at 13-9. At 14-10 Kalamazoo rallied for three straight points to make it 14-13, but an Alma kill scored the final point to win the match. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 15 kills and 17 digs. Quinn McCormick added 14 kills with five blocks. Kelsey Hill had eight kills with six blocks. Alex Gothard had 38 assists with 10 digs and six service aces. Autumn Cussen had a team-high 22 digs. Kalamazoo returns to action with an 11 a.m. match against Trine on Saturday, Oct. 22. Box Score

Volleyball wins in four at Olivet
The volleyball team won 3-1 at Olivet on Tuesday, Oct. 18. After narrowly dropping the first set (25-23), Kalamazoo came back to win the next three sets (25-19, 25-22, 25-15) for the win. Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with 17 kills while Quinn McCormick and Kelsey Hill each added 10 kills. Alex Gothard had 29 assists with 15 digs while Autumn Cussen also had 15 digs. Kalamazoo returns home to face Alma on Friday, Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Box Score

Volleyball defeated by Rose-Hulman, Millikin
The volleyball team lost to Rose-Hulman (24-26, 25-23, 25-20, 25-18) and Millikin (25-13, 25-14, 25-17) at the Midwest Invitational hosted by Calvin on Saturday, Oct. 18. Against Rose-Hulman, Quinn McCormick, Colleen Leonard and Kelsey Hill each had 11 kills. Johanna Kupe had 10 kills. Alex Gothard had 35 assists while Allison Liddane had 15 digs. Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with nine kills against Millikin. Alex Gothard had 19 assists and Autumn Cussen had 18 digs. The Hornets return to league play with a match at Olivet on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Rose-Hulman Box - Millikin Box

Volleyball battles top-ranked Calvin
The volleyball team gave Calvin a battle, but the top-ranked Knights left Anderson Athletic Center with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-11 victory on Wednesday, Oct. 12. Calvin led 10-2 in the first set, but the Hornets came back to make it a two-point game (14-12) before Calvin extended the lead to the 25-19 win. Calvin led 7-2 early in the second set, but Kalamazoo again came back to make it a one-point game (12-11). After an 18-16 Calvin lead, the Knights again pulled away for the 25-20 win. Calvin led 15-9 in the third set and outscored Kalamazoo 10-2 the rest of the way to win the final set, 25-11. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with nine kills. Quinn McCormick and Johanna Kupe each finished with five. Alex Gothard had 18 assists. Autumn Cussen had a team-high 10 digs. The Hornets return to action with two non-conference matches at Calvin on Saturday, Oct. 15. Box Score

Three Hornets post double-digit kills in Volleyball victory
Three Kalamazoo College volleyball players posted double-digit kill totals in a 3-1 win at Saint Mary's on Friday, Oct. 7. After splitting the first two sets (25-16, 18-25), Kalamazoo narrowly won the third set, 27-25. The Hornets finished off the match with a 25-16 win in the fourth set. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 13 kills and 10 digs. Quinn McCormick had 12 kills with four blocks. Kelsey Hill had 11 kills. Alex Gothard finished with 36 assists while Autumn Cussen had a team-high 23 digs. Kalamazoo returns home to face Calvin on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. Box Score

Volleyball wins at Albion; Coach Hess reaches 500 career wins
With a 3-1 win at Albion on Tuesday, Oct. 4, the Kalamazoo College Volleyball team secured the 500th career victory for Head Coach Jeanne Hess. Kalamazoo won the first two sets (25-10, 25-21), but dropped the third set (20-25). The Hornets led early in the third set and after taking a 17-11 lead, scored the final eight points for the 25-11 win. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 12 kills and a .321 attack percentage. Kelsey Hill had nine kills. Alex Gothard had 29 assists. Allison Liddane had 12 digs while Autumn Cussen had 11 digs. Jeanne Hess began coaching at Kalamazoo in 1984 and is currently in her 28th season. Through the 2010 season, Hess ranked 18th among active NCAA III coaches with 495 career wins. She ranks in the top 30 all-time among NCAA III coaches. Kalamazoo returns to action with a match at Saint Mary's on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. Box Score

Quinn McCormick named MIAA Volleyball Player of the Week
Quinn McCormick, a sophomore from Kalamazoo (Kalamazoo Central HS), was selected as the MIAA Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 3. McCormick had 11 kills in 18 attempts for a hitting percentage of .611, well above her season percentage, in leading the Hornets to a sweep of Adrian in MIAA play last Wednesday. She added seven kills against Hanover, Ind. and six against Manchester, Ind. on Saturday. McCormick is being honored as Player of the Week for the first time in her career.

Leonard records 1,000th career kill
Colleen Leonard recorded her 1,000th career kill in a non-conference match against Hanover on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Manchester. Leonard needed five kills to reach 1,000 and posted 18 kills in the match as the Hornets were defeated 3-1 (19-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-19). Alex Gothard had 31 assists while Autumn Cussen had 14 digs. Leonard had another 15 kills in a 3-1 loss to Manchester (25-21, 21-25, 25-18, 25-21). Gothard had 37 assists while Allison Liddane had 22 digs. The Hornets return to MIAA action at Albion on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Hanover Box - Manchester Box

Volleyball defeats Adrian 3-0
The volleyball team defeated Adrian 3-0 (25-23, 25-12, 25-23) at home on Wednesday, Sept. 28. Kalamazoo jumped out to a 9-1 lead in the first set and eventually led 18-11. Adrian battled back and eventually tied the score at 20-20, but Kalamazoo held on for the 25-23 win. Kalamazoo went up 9-4 in the second set and extended the lead to 21-9 before closing out the set at 25-12. The Bulldogs scored the first point of the third set and led 6-4 before Kalamazoo came back and regained the lead 7-6. The Hornets led by as many as six (23-17) late in the set before Adrian rallied to make it a 24-23 score. After a Kalamazoo timeout, Colleen Leonard's kill finished the set (25-23) and the match for the Hornets.

Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 15 kills. Quinn McCormick added 11 kills in 18 attempts without an error for a .611 attack percentage. Alex Gothard had six kills with 31 assists. Autumn Cussen had 14 digs. The win was the 499th in Kalamazoo Head Coach Jeanne Hess' 28-year career. The Hornets will try to make it 500 with matches against Hanover and Manchester this Saturday, Oct. 1 at Manchester. Box Score

Volleyball defeated by Hope
The volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-8, 25-13, 25-13) to #13 Hope at home Saturday night, Sept. 24. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with five kills. Quinn McCormick, Kelsey Hill, and Brittany Amor each finished with three kills. Alex Gothard had 15 assists. Autumn Cussen had five digs. Before the match, Kalamazoo and Hope teamed up to provide a free clinic to local children. Participating families were given free admission to the night's match, and both teams enjoyed teaching at the clinic and the extra support at the match. Kalamazoo returns to action next Wednesday, Sept. 28 with a home match against Adrian at 7 p.m. Box Score

Volleyball defeated at Trine
The volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-12) at Trine on Friday, Sept. 23. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with eight kills. Alex Gothard had 13 assists. Autumn Cussen had 11 digs. Kalamazoo returns home to host Hope on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. Box Score

Volleyball falls 3-2 at Alma
The women's volleyball team lost 3-2 at Alma on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Kalamazoo won the first two sets (25-19, 25-19), but Alma battled back to win the final three sets (25-17, 25-17, 15-7). Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 11 kills. Johanna Kupe and Brittany Amor each had seven kills. Alex Gothard had 31 assists. Autumn Cussen had 23 digs. Kalamazoo returns to action at Trine on Friday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. Box Score

Volleyball teams host free clinic
The Kalamazoo College and Hope College volleyball teams are pulling together to host a free volleyball clinic on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 3-4:30 p.m. at Kalamazoo College's Anderson Athletic Center. The clinic is open to students in grades 4-8, and all participants and their families will receive free admission to the match between Kalamazoo and Hope that evening at 7 p.m.

Parents interested in having their child participate in the clinic should RSVP to Coach Jeanne Hess via e-mail (jhess@kzoo.edu) or phone (269) 337-7086.

Directions to Kalamazoo College - Anderson Athletic Center: http://www.kzoo.edu/college/?p=campus
Kalamazoo College Volleyball Page: http://www.kzoo.edu/sports/vb/
Hope College Volleyball Page: http://www.hope.edu/athletics/vb/

Volleyball defeated in Saturday matches at Hiram
Alex Gothard selected to All-Tournament Team
The volleyball team lost a pair of matches at the Hiram University Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 17, falling 3-0 to Mount Union (25-16, 25-18, 25-12) and 3-1 to Otterbein (23-25, 25-16, 25-17, 25-10). Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with seven kills against Mount Union. Alex Gothard had 14 assists. Allison Liddane had 10 digs. Leonard led Kalamazoo with 13 kills against Otterbein. Quinn McCormick added seven kills. Gothard had 26 assists and eight digs. Liddane had 11 digs. Alex Gothard was selected to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the tournament. The Hornets return to MIAA competition with a match at Alma on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Mount Union Box Score - Otterbein Box Score

Volleyball falls on Friday at Hiram Tournament
The volleyball team lost to Hiram 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-11) and Case Western 3-1 (18-25, 25-18, 25-15, 25-23) at the Hiram College Tournament on Friday, Sept. 16. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with seven kills against Hiram. Johanna Kupe had six kills and Courtney Nartker had five kills. Alex Gothard had 16 assists, 10 digs and five kills. Autumn Cussen had 10 digs. Colleen Leonard also led Kalamazoo against Case Western with 18 digs. Courtney Nartker and Johanna Kupe each had seven kills. Alex Gothard had 36 assists while Autumn Cussen had 31 digs. The Hornets face Mount Union and Otterbein on Saturday. Hiram Box Score - Case Western Box Score

Volleyball defeats Olivet in three sets
The volleyball team improved to 2-1 in the MIAA with a 3-0 win (25-13, 25-13, 25-18) over Olivet on Wednesday, Sept. 14. Kalamazoo hit .303 for the match with 40 kills and just 10 errors. Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with 12 kills and a .310 attack percentage. Courtney Nartker had eight kills with no errors. Alex Gothard led the team with 32 assists. Autumn Cussen had a team-high 14 digs. The Hornets play next at a tournament at Hiram College this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17. Box Score

Volleyball falls at top-ranked Calvin
The volleyball team lost 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-15) at top-ranked Calvin College on Saturday, Sept. 10. Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with eight kills Johanna Kupe and Courtney Nartker each had six kills. Alex Gothard had 21 assists. The Hornets return home to host Olivet on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. Box Score

Hornet Volleyball gear available for purchase through Sept. 18
Kalamazoo College volleyball apparel is available now through Sept. 18. Information about available products and how to order are available in the attached PDF.

Leonard's 19 kills lead Volleyball past Saint Mary's
The Kalamazoo College volleyball team won its MIAA opener 3-1 (28-26, 25-20, 23-25, 25-19) over visiting Saint Mary's on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Kalamazoo trailed 15-9 and then 19-12 in the first set before rallying for a 28-26 win. After splitting the next two sets, Kalamazoo took a 16-9 lead in the fourth. The Belles battled back and were within three (20-17) before Kalamazoo closed out the match with the 25-19 win. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 19 kills, 10 digs and a .275 attack percentage. Johanna Kupe added 11 kills while Quinn McCormick finished with nine. Alex Gothard had 42 assists and was in on five blocks. Allison Liddane had 26 digs. Kalamazoo returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 10 at Calvin College. Box Score

Volleyball defeats Franklin in three sets
Colleen Leonard named to All-Tournament Team
The volleyball team defeated Franklin College in three sets (25-20, 25-11, 25-18) on the morning of Saturday, Sept. 3. Kalamazoo hit .340 in the match with 41 kills and just nine errors. Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with 13 kills and 10 digs. Courtney Nartker and Johanna Kupe each had nine kills. Alex Gothard had 25 assists and 10 digs.

Kalamazoo fell to tournament champion Wooster 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-18) in the second match of the day. Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with 11 kills and 13 digs. Alex Gothard had 14 assists. Autumn Cussen had 14 digs. Colleen Leonard was selected as one of six players on the All-Tournament Team. The Hornets next match is Tuesday, Sept. 6 in the MIAA home opener against Saint Mary's at 7 p.m. Franklin Box Score - Wooster Box Score

Volleyball comes up short in comeback effort against Baldwin-Wallace
The volleyball team came up a little short in a comeback effort against Baldwin-Wallace in the season opener for both teams on Friday, Sept. 2. After losing the first two sets (25-13, 25-16), Kalamazoo battled back to win the next two sets (25-19, 25-19). The Hornets fell behind 11-2 in the fifth set, but battled back to make it 14-12 before Baldwin-Wallace won the final point. Colleen Leonard led Kalamazoo with 14 kills in the match. Courtney Nartker had eight kills and seven service aces. Alex Gothard finished with seven kills and 24 assists. Autumn Cussen had 16 digs.

Kalamazoo dropped the first two sets against Anderson in the second match of the night, but again Kalamazoo rallied to win the third set. The Ravens came back to win the fourth set and the match, 3-1 (25-23, 25-16, 24-26, 25-19). Colleen Leonard led the Hornets with 10 kills and 12 digs. Quinn McCormick had seven kills. Alex Gothard had 29 assists. The Hornets return to action on Saturday with a 10 a.m. match against Franklin. Baldwin-Wallace Box - Anderson Box

Volleyball picked fourth in MIAA Preseason poll
The Kalamazoo College Volleyball team was picked to finish fourth in the MIAA this season according to the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll released on Monday, Aug. 22. Kalamazoo finished fourth in the MIAA last season with a 10-6 league record.

Volleyball Team earns AVCA Team Academic Award
The 2010-11 Kalamazoo College Volleyball Team was awarded the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award on Wednesday, July 20. The award honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale. Kalamazoo was one of just 88 schools in Division III to earn the award this year.

Leonard, Grinvalds earn All-MIAA Volleyball honors
Colleen Leonard and Larisa Grinvalds earned All-MIAA Volleyball honors on Saturday, Nov. 6. Leonard, a junior from Mason (Mason HS), was selected to the All-MIAA First Team after earning second team honors last season. Leonard had a .201 attack percentage in the MIAA and ranked fifth with 3.10 kills per set. She also had 166 digs, 47 assists, 13 service aces, and 39 total blocks in league play. Grinvalds, a senior from Kalamazoo (Portage Central HS), was selected to the All-MIAA Second Team. Grinvalds was the Hornets' second-leading hitter with 2.58 kills per set in league play. She was also second on the team with 185 digs, and finished the conference season with 15 assists, 11 service aces, and 20 blocks. Kalamazoo finished the season 19-10 overall and in fourth place in the MIAA with a 10-6 league record.