Lauren Hazekamp

Setter Lauren Hazekamp is looking forward to getting back to practice next week after a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament title eluded the Hope volleyball team.

The top-ranked Flying Dutch dropped a five-set heartbreaker to No. 2 Calvin on Saturday in Grand Rapids, as the Knights won 20-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-15, 15-12.

It was just Hope's second loss in 31 matches this season.

"Volleyball is a momentum game, and unfortunately it was just on their side (late)," said Hazekamp, a sophomore from Fruitport (Fruitport HS). "We couldn't answer this time. But that's what practice is for."

Calvin (29-1) pulled out the decisive fifth set by scoring 13 of the final 18 points. The Knights, who shared the regular-season MIAA championship with Hope, grabbed the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Flying Dutch are in line to receive an at-large berth when the field is announced on Monday at 11 a.m. Click here for a link to the pairings announcement.

Senior middle hitter Courtney Earles of Kentwood (East Kentwood HS) and junior outside hitter Anna Lynch of Lake Odessa (Lakewood HS) added 10 kills apiece. Hazekamp chipped in a match-high 46 assists and a team-high 17 digs.

The loss snapped the Flying Dutch's 16-match win streak.

Hope coach Becky Schmidt was happy with the improvements her team displayed from its last visit to Calvin — a three-set loss on Sept. 17.

"There were a lot of runs in this match that generally came off the serving and passing game," Schmidt said. "There were times we were serving real tough and getting Calvin out of system, then we were at an advantage. There were times they were serving tough and getting us out of system.

"I think in the end it just came down who was going to be better in some of those out of system situations. Calvin limited (its) errors and found ways to put more pressure to have to make plays."

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Photo by Alan Babbitt, Hope Sports Information