The 11th-ranked Hope College volleyball team kept its conference momentum rolling Wednesday night with a 3-0 sweep at The University of Olivet, winning 25-23, 25-14, 29-27, inside the Cutler Event Center.
The victory lifted the Flying Dutch to 19-5 overall and 6-0 in the MIAA, maintaining their spot atop the conference standings.
After a competitive opening set, the second frame showcased Hope at its sharpest with a commanding display of poise, power, and precision that left little room for the Comets to counter. The Flying Dutch jumped out early, sparked by a string of kills from seniors Ella Contant (Elmhurst, Illinois / York Community HS) and Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township). Junior Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) added a service ace to push Hope ahead 7-2, forcing an Olivet timeout.
Out of the break, Hope only tightened its grip. Contant swung through the block for another kill, and sophomore Olivia Wyma (Heartland, Wisconsin / Arrowhead) delivered back-to-back points on a kill and a stuff block to make it 12-3.
The backcourt, anchored by junior Kate Oates (Liberty Township, Ohio / Cincinnati Christian) and senior Tess Herendeen (Fort Wayne, Indiana / Homestead), turned Olivet attacks into scoring opportunities as Hope rolled to a 20-7 advantage.
The set closed with a flurry of points from senior Kate Luurtsema (Alto, Michigan / South Christian) and another Fox finish, securing a 25-14 set win and a commanding 2-0 match lead.
The Comets pushed back in the third, forcing 16 ties and taking Hope to the brink. But the Orange and Blue refused to yield.
Wyma and Fox came through in crunch time, and Oates sealed the sweep with a service ace for the 29-27 clincher.
Fox powered 12 kills on a crisp .303 hitting percentage.
Wyma contributed nine kills and three blocks to the Hope attack, while Contant added in eight kills.
Senior Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline) directed the offense with 38 assists.
Oates finished with 14 digs, while Herendeen tallied 11.
Hope returns to the court and league play on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m. against Alma College at DeVos Fieldhouse
