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Kiera Morrison and Kamryn Burbridge go up for a block vs. Albion.
Cam Lubberts/Calvin University
Pictured, Kiera Morrison and Kamryn Burbridge
0
Albion Albion 21-6,6-2 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
3
Winner Hope Hope 19-8,7-1 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Albion Albion
21-6,6-2 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
0
Final
3
Hope Hope
19-8,7-1 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Albion Albion 31 20 10 (0)
Hope Hope 33 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Lukas Cimbal

Volleyball Takes First-Set Marathon, Downs Albion in MIAA Tournament Semifinals

Hope advances to face Calvin in the finals

After sweeping Albion College just nine days ago in the regular season, it could have been a tall task for the Hope College volleyball team to knock off the Britons again in the MIAA Tournament semifinals.

But the Flying Dutch were more than up to the challenge, storming back from a mid-set deficit in the opening set to win a first thriller en route to a three-set sweep (33-31, 25-20,, 25-10) on Friday night at Calvin University.

Second-seeded Hope (19-8) advanced to play top-seeded Calvin (24-3) in the MIAA Tournament finals on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 5:30 p.m. The winner receives the MIAA's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championships.

"That was the kind of Albion team we expected to show up tonight," head coach Becky Schmidt said. "They played some really aggressive defense, especially in that first set, and I have a ton of respect for [Albion senior right side hitter Carly Frank], who started off the match moving our defense all over the place. 

"I think we made some good adjustments, and I'm proud of our girls for having the toughness at the end of that first set (to get the win) and being able to rise to the occasion, especially with people playing in places that they've never played before. As a coach, you get fired up for them to see the opportunity and to take it."

The Flying Dutch entered the match ranked 54th in the NPI rankings that help determine at-large berths and tournament seeding, nine spots behind Albion (21-6).

Hope trailed 17-12 in the first set before the Flying Dutch rattled off the next five points to tie the score. It was back-and-forth from that point on, with neither team leading by more than a point until the Flying Dutch got consecutive kills from Amelia Gagnon (Belmont, Michigan / Grand Rapids West Catholic) and Maddie Ostrander (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) to pull out the set.

"I think we just trusted in our teammates and really pulled it together at the end there," said senior defensive specialist Kathryn Oates (Liberty Township, Ohio / Cincinnati Christian). "Some people really had to step up to play in the front row, as we had two defensive specialists / liberos in the front row who were out of position, which was awesome. We all just stepped up and had faith in each other, which is what I think allowed us to get it done in that first set."

The second set was close as well, with Hope scoring six straight points before Albion came right back with five unanswered of their own to cut the Flying Dutch lead to 19-17. The Flying Dutch received kills from All-MIAA Second Team outside hitter Angie Butler (Novi, Michigan / Mercy), Ostrander, and All-MIAA First Team middle hitter Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven), as well as a block from Kate VanderHill (Hudsonville, Michigan / Unity Christian) before a kill from outside hitter Kiera Morrison (Bartlett, Illinois / Wheaton Academy) put the game away as Hope won 25-20.

The two-set lead gave Hope all of the momentum it needed as the Flying Dutch cruised in Set 3, taking a 3-2 lead and winning 25-10 after another Morrison kill sent the team into the tournament finals. Morrison paced the Flying Dutch with 11 kills and also added two aces.

"I don't think winning or losing that first set meant much as to what is going to happen after that because volleyball is a game where you're gonna have to win a lot of points in order to be able to win the match," Schmidt said. "Kiera Morrison played a really strong match. She was finding ways to be able to move the defense and score. Kate VanderHill did a nice job setting the block for us and Brooke Hehl is just an amazing setter. There were times she needed to find a little bit of a rhythm, but she ended up really being aggressive offensively and finding hitters in good situations."

Oates was proud of the way that her team responded throughout the night. 

"We always talk about staying composed in the difficult moments when the game is tight and the grind of playing hard together," she said. "I think we are just so ready to play (Calvin) tomorrow and we have this fire where we're ready to take it to them. We want to give it all we have and play with an underdog mentality. I love this team, and it's so fun to play with these girls. I hope it never ends."

Both teams wore purple accessories on their uniforms to honor John Samol, the father of Hope junior middle hitter Abby Samol (Mason, Ohio / William Mason), who passed away on Thursday. Both Schmidt and Oates acknowledged that the team was playing with heavy hearts.

"It's been a pretty emotional and heavy couple of days," Schmidt said. "I'm proud of the way our team was able to get out on the court and play the game they love with the people they love to honor their teammate.

Added Oates, "It was definitely on our minds. Our whole team is doing it for [Abby] and we wore purple because it's her favorite color. She is a really big part of our team who brings a lot of intensity and joy, so we wanted to bring the intensity and joy for her today."

Burbridge contrbiuted nine kills. Butler chipped in six for Hope. Jillian Collins (Northville, Michigan / Mercy) served up four aces.

Hehl, an All-MIAA First Team selection from Rochester Hills, Michigan ( Lutheran Northwest) dished out 32 assists. Ostrander had seven blocks and Oates played some great defense with 16 digs for the Flying Dutch.
 
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