by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College volleyball team dropped its finale in the Midwest Invitational to fourth-ranked Carthage College (Wisconsin) on Saturday in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The 20th-ranked Flying Dutch lost in three sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-16) and finished the two-day tournament at Calvin University with a 2-1 record.

Senior libero Gabbi Vachon of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Jenison HS) was named to the all-tournament team.

Hope, which is now 16-5 overall, received a team-high 11 kills from sophomore middle hitter McKenna Otto of Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton North US and eight kills from senior outside hitter Ryann Stutz of Kalamazoo, Michigan (Parchment).

Carthage outhit the Flying Dutch, .169 to .037. Hope committed 30 hitting errors.

Sophomore Grace Pettinger of Mount Vernon, Iowa (Mount Vernon) topped the Flying Dutch with 14 digs.

After the Hope match, Carthage lost to Calvin in four sets.

Hope's next match is Tuesday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Saint Mary's College.