by Alan Babbitt

Outside hitters Rose Thompson and Jenna Core propelled the seventh-ranked Hope College volleyball team to a 3-0 win at Saint Mary's College on Friday.

The Flying Dutch improved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play with a 25-13, 25-15, 25-7 victory. Hope earned a successful start to a busy weekend featuring games in two states.

On Saturday, Sept. 25, the Flying Dutch head to Bloomington, Illinois, to face Aurora University (Ill.) at 12:30 p.m. Central and tournament host Illinois Wesleyan University at 3 p.m. Central.

Photo of Eva Hartung (21) by Saint Mary's College

Against Saint Mary's, Thompson recorded a game-high 11 kills in just two sets. The senior from Coopersville, Michigan (Unity Christian HS) hit a season-best .529 with only two errors in 17 attempts.

Core finished with a career-high 10 kills in three sets. The junior from Spring Lake, Michigan (Spring Lake) posted a .444 attack percentage in 18 attempts.

Outside hitter Molly Ligon added seven kills in three sets. The senior from Beverly Hills, Michigan (Birmingham Seaholm) had a .600 attack percentage.

Hope hit a season-high .461 as a team against Saint Mary's (, surpassing the .393 effort against Dominican University (Ill.) on Sept. 18 at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Senior setter Tracy Westra (Clarendon Hills, Ill. / Timothy Christian) collected 38 assists.