The Hope College volleyball team opened strong but fell in a five-set battle at Denison University (Ohio) on Friday night. 

The Flying Dutch (2-1 ) took sets one and three, but the Big Red answered each time and pulled away late for a 13-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-19, 15-11 victory inside Livingston Gymnasium.

Senior Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township HS) led Hope with 12 kills. Senior Kate Luurtsema (Alto, Michigan / South Christian) and junior Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) added 11 and nine kills respectively.

Sophomore Olivia Wyma (Hartland, Wisconsin / Arrowhead), who hit .692 with nine kills, added a team-high nine blocks. 

Senior setter Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline) dished out 31 assists, while junior Kathryn Oates (Liberty Township, Ohio / Cincinnati Christian) recorded a team-best 18 digs.

Hope dominated the opening set with an efficient attack and steady defense. 

The Flying Dutch hit .333 as a team while holding Denison to a -.214 percentage. Key scoring runs of 6-1 and 7-1 powered Hope to a commanding 22-9 lead before closing out the set, 25-13.

Denison responded in set two with its best offensive performance of the night, hitting .412 as a team despite committing four attack errors and three service miscues. The Big Red built a lead as large as six points and evened the match with a 25-19 win.

The third set was tightly contested with nine different ties, but Hope pulled away midway through with a decisive 9-2 run. 

The Flying Dutch sealed the set 25-15 to regain the match lead.

Denison refused to go away, using an 8-2 surge to start the fourth set. Hope twice battled back to within three points late, but the Big Red held firm to win 25-19 and force a deciding fifth set.

The final frame saw both teams trade points until the very end. Deadlocked deep into the set, Denison closed the match with three unanswered points to secure the 15-11 win.

Hope is back in action on Saturday, Sept. 6, for two game in at Ohio Wesleyan University. The Flying Dutch take on host OWU at 10 a.m. and Wittenberg University at 12:30 p.m.