Box Score 
The top-ranked Hope volleyball team clinched its 12th Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) championship on Friday by sweeping Albion at home.
The Flying Dutch won 25-16, 25-11, 25-12 in front of a DeVos Fieldhouse Main Court crowd of 1,073 to complete league play with a 15-1 record and match No. 2-ranked Calvin for first place.
It was Senior Night, with middle hitters Courtney Earles of Kentwood (East Kentwood HS) and Mari Schoolmaster of Portage (Portage Central HS) being honored during a pre-game ceremony.
Against Albion, junior outside hitter Jenna Grasmeyer of Jenison led the Flying Dutch with 13 kills.
Earles chipped in 10 kills, while junior Anna Lynch of Lake Odessa (Lakewood HS) added nine. Hope hit .410 as a team as sophomore setter Lauren Hazekamp of Fruitport (Fruitport HS) recorded a match-high 40 assists and 15 digs.
The win extended the Flying Dutch's win streak to a season-high 16 matches.
Hope (28-1 overall) will be the No. 2 seed for next weekend's MIAA Tournament at Calvin. Play begins Friday night, with the Flying Dutch facing third-seeded Trine at 5:30 p.m. Calvin plays fourth-seeded Saint Mary's at 7:30 p.m. Winners advances to Saturday's 4 p.m. title match at Calvin.
The tournament champion earns the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Hope is hosting the Division III Volleyball Champions on Nov. 21-23 at DeVos Fieldhouse.
By Tom Renner, Hope Public Relations
