Inside a charged DeVos Fieldhouse atmosphere, the No. 18-ranked Hope College volleyball team rose to the occasion, knocking off previously unbeaten and No. 7-ranked Illinois Wesleyan in four sets on Saturday (25-20, 21-25, 25-17, 25-7).
The win not only capped a statement weekend for the Flying Dutch but also extended their season-best winning streak to seven matches. The Orange and Blue defeated No. 14 Marietta College (Ohio) in three sets on Friday.
Now 11-4, Hope now pivots from a Top-10 victory to The Rivalry. MIAA play opens up with Calvin University at home on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m. at DeVos Fieldhouse.
The Flying Dutch came out fearless in the opening set, battling through six ties before pulling away late.
Kills from senior Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township HS) and freshman Kiera Morrison (Bartlett, Illinois / Wheaton Academy) set the tone, while a pivotal block by sophomore Olivia Wyma (Heartland, Wisconsin / Arrowhead) helped seal a 25-20 win.
"What stood out the most was how we were able to get into a flow defensively and then that had an impact on us making good decisions at the net," head coach Becky Schmidt said.
After the Titans (13-1) answered in the second set, the Flying Dutch regrouped and responded with authority.
A balanced offense and timely serving in the third gave Hope the edge again, setting the stage for a dominant finish in the fourth. With a loud DeVos setting, Hope's attack and block were unstoppable in the clincher.
The Orange and Blue surged to a 12–6 lead behind powerful kills from junior Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) and senior Ella Contant (Elmhurst, Illinois / York Community). Senior setter Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline) then ignited the crowd with back-to-back service aces to break open the set.
Hope's defense locked down from there, with Wyma and Contant teaming up on crucial blocks before Lee closed the match with another ace in a resounding 25-7 finish.
"I think we put a lot of pressure on them to have to think while they're playing, and I think we got our middles going a little bit more than earlier in the match, and I think that got to be a bit overwhelming," Schmidt noted of the late-match surge.
Contant led the Flying Dutch with 10 kills. Fox and Burbridge each added nine and seven kills, respectively.
Lee ran the offense with 35 assists and chipped in 4fouirservice aces.
Freshman Amelia Gagnon (Belmont, Michigan / Grand Rapids West Catholic) and junior Kathryn Oates (Liberty Township, Ohio / Cincinnati Christian) anchored the defense with 13 digs aoiece.
Hope's blocking effort was a difference-maker, as the Flying Dutch totaled 12 blocks, with Wyma leading the way with six.
