PHOTO COURTESY OF CALVIN COLLEGE

Villa Park native receives her college’s highest athletic honor

Setter helped Calvin to national volleyball title in 2016

Jenna Lodewyk of Villa Park recently graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Lodewyk, a standout volleyball player who helped Calvin to the 2016 NCAA Division III national championship, was honored as a 2018 co-recipient of her school’s Kay Tiemersma Athletic Award. Presented since 1975, the annual honor recognizes Calvin’s top senior female student-athlete.
Consideration for the award is based on athletic ability, scholastic standing, character and leadership. The coaches of Calvin’s female athletic programs and a committee consisting of students and non-physical education faculty members select the recipient.
Lodewyk and Abby Van Harn, a swimming standout from Grand Rapids, were the co-recipients of this year’s Tiemersma Athletic Award.
Before attending Calvin, Lodewyk attended Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst. A setter, she was named to the Metro Suburban Conference’s all-conference volleyball team in three of her four seasons with the Trojans.
Lodewyk’s parents—Bill and Kim—both attended Calvin College. Kim (Lautenbach) Lodewyk was a member of Calvin’s women’s volleyball and track and field teams. In 1986, she received the Kay Tiemersma Athletic Award—the same honor her daughter would receive 32 years later.
Lodewyk was named the 2014 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Freshman of the Year after her first season at Calvin. She helped the Knights to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III tournament during her freshman season, when she was named to the Division III All-America third team. She was named the Division III All-America second team in each of the next three seasons.
Calvin posted a 33-1 record during Lodewyk’s junior season. The Knights won the 2016 NCAA Division III tournament title. They defeated Washington University of St. Louis in straight sets (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) in the championship match, which was played on Nov. 19, 2016, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Lodewyk, who contributed 35 assists in the title contest, was named to the all-tournament team.
Calvin advanced to the national semifinals during Lodewyk’s senior season in the fall of 2017.
Lodewyk served as a captain of the Calvin team for two seasons. In her four seasons, the Knights compiled 124 victories and sported a 63-1 record in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) matches. Calvin won four straight MIAA regular-season titles, captured three MIAA Tournament championships and made four trips to the NCAA Tournament during Lodewyk’s collegiate career. She was named to the All-MIAA first team in each of her four seasons.
Lodewyk amassed 4,558 assists in her four seasons at Calvin. She ranks third in that category in Calvin volleyball history.
Lodewyk graduated from Calvin in May. She majored in business operations with a minor in community development. She was a three-time College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-American. She was named to the third team in 2015, the second team in 2016 and the first team in 2017. Additionally, Lodewyk was named the Division III CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year in women’s volleyball in 2017.