Winning the final race by sixth-tenths of a second punctuated a breakthrough victory for the Hope College women's swimming & diving team.
The Flying Dutch edged Calvin in the 400 freestyle relay to cap a 167-133 Senior Day win on Saturday at the Dow Center.
Junior Molly Meyer of South Bend, Indiana (John Adams HS), freshman Abigail Brinks of Commerce Township, Michigan (Walled Lake Northern HS), freshman Sydney Asselin of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian HS) and senior Klare Northuis of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) posted a time of 3 minutes, 39.16 seconds to touch out Calvin's Rachel Mattson, Megan Schroder, Anna Serino and Abby VanHarn by 0.58.
It was Hope's first dual meet victory over the Knights since a 164-156 decision in 2008.
Hope coach John Patnott said his swimmers were rewarded for enjoying themselves during the meet.
"We've been talking about the meet for three days," Patnott said. "We talked about coming out here, racing hard but having fun. We do better when we're having fun."
The Flying Dutch remained unbeaten in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association duals with their third win against a league opponent. Calvin fell to 2-1 in MIAA duals and 6-3 overall.
Dual meet results do not factor in the MIAA championship, but still can have an impact, Patnott said.
"What it gives us is a lot of confidence for the conference meet," Patnott said. "When you can win a dual meet, you can walk into the conference meet knowing it's a totally different meet, but knowing you've already done it once and can do it again."
The 2016 MIAA Championships are February 17-20 at Calvin.
Hope opened the meet by winning the 200 medley relay. Meyer, senior Jorgie Watson of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Catholic Central HS), freshman Elisabeth Craig of Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS) and Brinks clocked a time of 1:52.57.
Sophomore Elizabeth Fris of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS) took first in the 1,000 freestyle with a swim of 10:53.99.
Hope swept the top three times in the 200 individual medley: sophomore Chloe Palajac of Dearborn, Michigan (Dearborn HS) at 2:14.05, Fris at 2:22.12 and Watson at 2:22.23.
Meyer and Northuis finished 1-2 in the 100 backstroke at 1:00.72 and 1:01.86, respectively. Meyer also won the 200 backstroke in 2:12.56.
Watson posted the best time in the 100 breaststroke at 1:09.85 and the 200 breaststroke at 2:34.56. Fris was second in the 200 breaststroke at 2:37.21.
Palajac and Craig went 1-2 in the 200 butterfly at 2:12.98 and 2:16.62.
Craig and Palajac took first and second in the 100 butterfly at 59.85 and 1:01.02.
Senior Sarah Sheridan of Richmond, Indiana (Richmond HS) and freshman Sarah Plohetski of South Lyon, Michigan (South Lyon HS) recorded the top two performances in 1-meter diving with 269.5 and 201.0 points, respectively.
Sheridan also had the best 3-meter diving performance at 294.70 points.
