On the first day of the "Aces for Joy" Tournament, the second-ranked Hope College volleyball team had every reason to be happy.

The Flying Dutch dominated from the start during the final two sets to secure a 25-23, 25-13, 25-15 victory against tournament host and seventh-ranked University of Northwestern (Minnesota) on Friday.

Hope, the 2023 NCAA Division II national runner-up, scored seven consecutive points to grab a 14-5 lead during the second set. The Flying Dutch used a 6-0 run during the third set for a 10-4 lead.

Senior outside hitter Addie VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian HS) led a balanced Hope attack. The 2023 AVCA Co-National Player of the Year in NCAA Division III slammed 11 kills.

Senior outside hitter Annie Lockett (Mason, Ohio / William Mason) delivered 10 kills in her first match since the 2022 season. Lockett missed the entire 2023 season because of an injury.

Senior middle hitter Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian) recorded nine kills.

The Flying Dutch finished the match with a .329 team-hitting percentage to Northwestern's .139.

Junior setter and returning All-American Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline) totaled 31 assists.

Senior outside hitter Samantha Seib (Elkhorn, Wisconsin / Catholic Central) recorded team-bests in digs with 10 and service aces with four.

Hope returns to action on Saturday, Aug. 31, with two matches: 11 a.m. Central vs. No. 17 Washington University in St. Louis and 1 p.m. Central vs. Coe College (Iowa).

Northwestern's fifth "Aces for Joy" campaign honors the memory of 2008 graduate and volleyball alumna Kathryne Pals and continues her legacy of spreading the Gospel.

On July 31, 2016, the Pals family was traveling to their final training session in Colorado, prior to their long-term deployment to be global partners with the Christ Bible Institute in Nagoya, Japan. They were rear-ended by a semi-truck; Jamison (29), Kathryne (29), Ezra (3), Violet (23 months), and Calvin (2 months) departed to be with Jesus Christ. 

Since the inception of Aces for Joy, more than $42,000 has been raised. The 2024 campaign will directly support two missions' ministries.