The Hope College volleyball team continued to perform like one of the nation's top blocking units, and it paid off with a sixth consecutive win in a NCAA Division III Tournament opener.

Nine total blocks keyed a 25-19, 25-22, 25-20 sweep of Franklin & Marshall (Pennsylvania) on Thursday at the Springfield (Ohio) regional.

Second-ranked Hope advanced to a Friday 3:30 p.m. second-round match at Wittenberg University against No. 10 Juniata, Pennsylvania.

Juniata (28-7) beat Franciscan, Ohio, 25-14, 25-9, 25-14 in Thursday's first match.

Hope coach Becky Schmidt said the Flying Dutch's block played very well against Franklin & Marshall (21-12).

Hope entered the match ranked 11th in the country at 2.31 blocks per set.

"We had a few blocking errors, but for the most part, the hands were getting pressed up and allowed our defenders to get around, make good reads and keep a lot of balls alive," Schmidt said. "I think that frustrated Franklin & Marshall's hitters, hitters who were certainly capable of a lot."

Four different Hope players recorded at least one solo block, while five had at least one block assist. Senior Amy VanderStoep of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), totaled two of the Flying Dutch's five solo blocks and two of their eight block assists.

Senior Jenna Grasmeyer of Jenison, Michigan (Hudsonville Unity Christian HS), finished with a game-high 14 kills on a .591 kill percentage. VanderStoep was second on Hope with seven kills.

Senior Anna Lynch of Lake Odessa, Michigan (Lakewood HS), and sophomore Courtney Van Houzen of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City HS), added five kills apiece.

Junior setter Lauren Hazekamp of Fruitport, Michigan (Fruitport HS), had 34 assists.

The Hope-Juniata winner advances to the 7 p.m. Saturday final at Wittenberg.