by Eva Dean Folkert

With two victories at the Illinois Wesleyan Tournament on Saturday, the No. 7 Hope College volleyball team's win streak has been extended to eight in-a-row. The Flying Dutch first swept Aurora University (Ill.) with scores of 25-11, 25-17, 25-21; then they topped the host Titans in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-17, 25-15.

Hope has dropped only two sets since its Sept. 11 loss to Wittenberg University (Ohio) at the Battle at the Point Tournament. The Flying Dutch are now 12—1 overall.

Against the Aurora Spartans (6-6), the Flying Dutch continued to its effective attack by recording their fourth consecutive match with a .300-plus hitting percentage. Hope connected on kills at a .330 clip, led by junior Charlotte Brecht (Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich/Grosse Pointe South), pictured, and senior Ana Grunewald (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids), each with 11. Brecht was also the Hope leader at the net on hitting percentage (.611).

Against the IWU Titans (7-9), Hope's multi-faceted attack again won the battle at the net, even though its second-set loss was a temporary setback. Three Flying Dutch finished with double digit kills, led by senior McKenna Otto (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) with 17. Grunewald recorded 15 kills while senior Rose Thompson (Coopersville, Mich./Unity Christian) had 11 with the highest hitting percentage at .458.

As a team, Hope narrowly missed continuing its .300-plus hitting streak as its finished with a .289 percentage.

Senior setter Tracy Westra (Clarendon Hills, Ill./Timothy Christian) paced the Flying Dutch in assists with 35 against Aurora and 43 against IWU.

Sophomore libero Maggie Wehrmeyer (Holland, Mich./West Ottawa) recorded the most digs for Hope with 18 against Aurora and 26 against IWU.

Brecht was Hope's block leader with six in each match.

The Flying Dutch returned to league play on Wednesday, Sept. 29 with a 6:30 p.m. match at Albion College.