A country boy can survive, but so can the women of the Hope College volleyball team.

The second-ranked Flying Dutch saddled up for a showdown vs. No. 19 University of Chicago on Thursday's Country Music Night at DeVos Fieldhouse, and it turned into a five-set thriller with 23 lead changes.

Hope emerged victorious, 25-14, 20-25, 25-23, 22-25, 15-9, and improved to 18-2 on the season. The Flying Dutch pushed their winning streak to 10 matches after playing past three sets for the first time this month: a span of eight matches.

Head coach Becky Schmidt credited her team's poise after Chicago (18-5) forced a decisive fifth set by winning a back-and-forth fourth set that included 10 lead changes. The Flying Dutch are now 3-0 in five-set matches this season.

"I think in the fifth set, it just comes down to managing moments and I thought we just managed those moments better," Schmidt said. "I think we limited our errors. We got ourselves maybe not in-system perfectly but at least good enough where Lauren {Lee} had a few good options she could set. She's so good at being able to run the middle, even in difficult situations, the opponent's blocks have to respect it. 

"It just opens a bunch of different things when we get that pass a little tighter and a little higher. We found ways to be able to make the most of it."

The Flying Dutch trailed only once during the fifth set following Hillary Cheung's ace on the opening serve of the set.

Hope scored seven of the next nine points, starting with a block from seniors Annie Lockett (Mason, Ohio / William Mason HS) and Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian) that pulled the Flying Dutch even at 1-1.

Kills from DeWeerd and VanderWeide and a service ace from junior Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township) — combined with three more Chicago attack errors — propelled Hope to a 7-2 lead.

A later 5-0 run that extended Hope's lead to 13-5 featured two kills from Lockett and one from sophomore Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven).

DeWeerd and senior Addie VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) each finished with 16 kills. Lockett had 12.

Chicago's Diya Mishra totaled a match-high 18 kills.

Setter Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline) recorded a match-best 45 assists.

Hope's next match is Senior Day on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. vs Albion College at DeVos Fieldhouse.