The Hope College volleyball team swept Albion College in straight sets (25-12, 25-15, 25-21) on Wednesday night, at DeVos Fieldhouse and clinched the No. 2 seed for next week's MIAA Tournament.
The Flying Dutch conclude the regular-season on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. at Alma College, then will play next in the MIAA Tournament semifinals at top-seeded Calvin University on Saturday, Nov. 13, at a time to be announced.
Hope commanded the court against Albion, totalizing 43 kills on a strong .294 hitting percentage while holding Albion to just 20 kills and a .010 attack efficiency.
The Flying Dutch seized early momentum in the opening set with efficient attacking and aggressive serving, securing a 25-12 win. Albion kept the remaining sets closer, but Hope's relentlessness proved too much to handle as the Flying Dutch closed out set two 25-15 and sealed the sweep with a 25-21 win in set three to improve to 17-8 overall and 6-1 in MIAA play.
Hope's offensive attack was spearheaded by senior Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven HS) and junior Angie Butler (Novi, Michigan / Mercy), who led with 12 kills apiece.
Burbridge hit .423 while adding two block assists, while Butler posted a .409 hitting percentage alongside two total blocks.
Sophomore Kiera Morrison (Bartlett, Illinois / Wheaton Academy) also reached double figures in points, recording nine kills, six digs, and a service ace.
Sophomore setter Brooke Hehl (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Lutheran Northwest) orchestrated the Flying Dutch offense with game-high 33 assists.
On the defensive end, senior Kathryn Oates (Liberty Township, Ohio / Cincinnati Christian) and sophomore Jillian Collins (Northville, Michigan / Northville) shared team-high honors with 11 digs each.
