A little desperation served the Hope College volleyball team well Friday night in Springfield, Ohio.

One set from being swept for the second time on the day, the 17th-ranked Flying Dutch rallied for a 23-25, 21-25, 25-15, 25-20, 15-10 win against the University of Mary Washington (Virginia).

Hope improved to 8-1 overall after bouncing back from a 25-20, 25-16, 25-21 loss to No. 20-ranked Ohio Northern University in the Wittenberg University Fall Classic opener.

The comeback against Mary Washington began with a seven-point run in the third set that propelled the Flying Dutch to a 7-1 lead against Mary Washington (6-3).

Two kills from senior outside hitter Katie Rietberg of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS) and one kill from senior middle hitter Vanessa Reynhout of Freeport, Michigan (Lakewood), pictured, fueled Hope's decisive surge.

Sophomore Adair Cutler of East Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Christian) added in a service ace. Hope never gave up the lead the remainder of the match.

Rietberg finished with 27 kills — one off of her career-high and the school record she shares.

Reynhout and sophomore Rose Thompson of Coopersville, Michigan (Hudsonville Unity Christian) finished with eight kills apiece.

Cutler totaled four aces, 20 assists, and 13 digs. Freshman Tracy Westra of Clarendon Hills, Illinois (Timothy Christian) had 31 assists.

Against Ohio Northern (8-2), freshman middle hitter McKenna Otto of Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton North) topped the Flying Dutch with 10 kills.

Hope concludes the tournament on Saturday with matches against Heidelberg College (Ohio) and eighth-ranked Ithaca University (N.Y.).