by Alan Babbitt

The 12th-ranked Hope College volleyball team split its matches during the finale of the Millikin University (Illinois) Midseason Showcase on Saturday.

The Flying Dutch opened with a forfeit win against Buena Vista University (Iowa) after Buena Vista did not have enough healthy players to start the match.

Hope (12-4 overall) then fell to 10th-ranked Thomas More College (Kentucky) in three sets.

Junior outside hitter Ryann Stutz of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Parchment HS) recorded a team-high eight kills during the 25-22, 25-21, 25-11 loss to Thomas More.

Freshman middle hitter McKenna Otto of Wheaton, Illinois (North) chipped in seven kills, while freshman outside hitter Ana Grunewald of Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) had six.

Thomas More (16-1) limited the Flying Dutch to a season-low .073 hitting as a team.

Hope's next match is Tuesday at Kalamazoo with a 7 p.m. start time.