Jenna Grasmeyer

The top-ranked Hope College volleyball team sweated a little more than usual Wednesday night at Alma, but left the court in a familiar position.

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association-leading Flying Dutch outlasted their upset-minded foe for a 20-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-21 win.

Hope (20-0 overall) overcame a loss in a first set for the first time this season and a 16-8 deficit in the fourth set. It was just the third time this season an opponent pushed the Flying Dutch to a fourth set.

Senior Jenna Grasmeyer of Jenison, Michigan (Hudsonville Unity Christian HS), recorded a match-high 19 kills. She was one short of her season-high set against Olivet on Sept. 10.

Grasmeyer set a school record with 49 attempts. She passed the three-set mark of 47 she held since Sept. 7, 2013 against Chicago.

Senior Amy VanderStoep of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), chipped in 10 kills against Alma (11-14, 6-5 MIAA).

Junior Allie Mitchell of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern HS), totaled a match-high 19 digs for Hope.

Junior Lauren Hazekamp of Fruitport, Michigan (Fruitport HS), dished out 34 assists for the Flying Dutch, who improved to 10-0 in MIAA action. 

Hope returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 11, when the Flying Dutch host DePauw (Indiana) and Wheaton (Illinois) for nonleague matches at the DeVos Fieldhouse Volleyball Court at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., respectively.