The second-ranked Hope College volleyball team notched another unbeaten weekend, with wins against Bethel University (Minn.) and Aurora University (Ill.) at the Marilyn Scribner Invitational at Wheaton College (Ill.) on Saturday.
The now 8-0 Flying Dutch defeated Bethel in four sets, 25-19, 25-21, 21-25, 25-20, and Aurora in four sets, 25-19, 25-15, 18-25, 25-23.
Against Bethel, Hope took the first set over Bethel after grabbing two bundles of points early to pull ahead quickly.
Bethel dug its way out to within three points before kills by junior Liz VanderSlice (Wyoming, Michigan / Grandville HS), freshman Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) and junior Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian) ended the first set.
Set two against Bethel was yet again a strong Hope start, but Bethel brought the fight again and tied the score early at six.
There were five different ties during the second set before the Flying Dutch gained the advantage with four unanswered points to go up 17-13 thanks to kills from senior Natalie Dunn (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), junior Eva Hartung (Lisle, Illinois / Naperville North) and DeWeerd.
The third set, which was taken by Bethel to make the match 2-1, was tied six different times.
Hope's grit pushed through in the fourth set to gain the match win. The Flying Dutch shut down Bethel, staying ahead by at least two after being tied early at nine.
Burbridge tallied the final kill in the match.
DeWeerd finished with a team-high 11 total kills and a .455 attack percentage, while junior Addie VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) put up 10 kills, and VanderSlice added nine kills.
Sophomore Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline), a Marilyn Scribner Invitational All-Tournament Team selection, had a match-high 45 assists in the first win of the day. Lee also collected a team-high 15 digs.
Aurora, Hope's second opponent of the day, also pushed the Orange and Blue.
The Flying Dutch, down by five early in the first set, persevered to put up 11 unanswered points highlighted by three VanderSlice kills to make it 17-13 Hope.
Hope never trailed the remainder of the set with DeWeerd tallying a kill and a service ace to end the set.
The Flying Dutch led the entirety of the second set, finishing with five straight points to go up 2-0 in the match.
Aurora grabbed the first six of seven points of the third set to avoid a sweep.
A fourth set battle ensued again, with Hope on top early, 5-3, but Aurora answered with a five-point streak to take the lead. The lead changed five more times, the final switch coming after a 23-23 tie and two Aurora attack errors that gave Hope its final two points.
DeWeerd led Hope for the second time in kills with 14 and had six block assists.
Burbridge put up 11 kills, while Dunn recorded 10 kills.
Lee finished the second match of the day with a team-high 42 assists, while junior Sammie Seib (Elkhorn, Wisconsin / Catholic Central) served four aces.
The Flying Dutch return to DeVos Fieldhouse for their home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. against Wheaton.
