by Alan Babbitt

Molly Ligon raised her long right arm into the air and slammed down the set from Tracy Westra for match point.

The No. 21-ranked Hope College volleyball team turned away unbeaten Trine University's thunderous comeback for a five-set victory on Wednesday in Angola, Indiana.

The Flying Dutch improved to 2-0 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play with a 25-21, 21-16, 25-27, 22-25, 15-12 victory. Trine fell to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAA matches.

Ligon's 10th kill of the night ended Trine's rally attempt in the fifth set. 

Hope never trailed in the fifth set, but the Thunder fought back from a 13-8 deficit by scoring four of five points, including three in a row. Trine held serve when Westra, pictured right, set the 6-1 Ligon, her outside hitter from Beverly Hills, Michigan (Birmingham Seaholm HS), at the net for the match point.

Westra (Clarendon Hills, Illinois/Timothy Christian) recorded 27 assists and seven kills. Fellow setter Adair Cutler (Lansing, Michigan/Lansing Christian) contributed 19 assists and 14 digs.

Ligon, pictured left, was one of three Flying Dutch to register double-digit kills.

Middle hitter McKenna Otto (Wheaton, Illinois/Wheaton North) topped Hope with 17 kills. The junior also recorded 12 digs and five blocks.

Outside hitter Ana Grunewald (Grand Rapids, Michigan/East Grand Rapids) totaled 12 kills and 12 digs.

Middle hitter Charlotte Brecht (Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan/Grosse Pointe South) added a career-high 10 blocks and six kills.

Hope's next match is Friday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at Kalamazoo College.