The 23rd-ranked Hope College volleyball team concluded action at the Orange and Blue Weekend on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse, splitting a pair of non-conference matches.
The Flying Dutch rolled past Denison University 3–0 in the morning session before falling in a five-setter to Ohio Wesleyan University in the afternoon. Hope's record stands at 3–3 overall following the two-day tournament.
Hope opened the day in dominant fashion, sweeping Denison in straight sets (25–12, 25–13, 25–20). The Orange and Blue hit an efficient .305 on the match while stifling the Big Red offense, holding Denison to a -.049 hitting percentage.
An aggressive service game proved to be the difference maker early and often. Sophomores Amelia Gagnon (Belmont, Michigan / Grand Rapids West Catholic HS) and Jillian Collins (Northville, Michigan / Mercy) set the tempo from behind the line, as Hope racked up 12 total service aces. Gagnon led the way with a match-high eight aces—just two shy of the program's three-set record for a match at DeVos Fieldhouse—to go along with 10 digs.
Senior Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) paced the attack with 11 kills on a .375 hitting clip alongside two blocks. Setter sophomore Brooke Hehl (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Lutheran Northwest) directed the offense with 31 assists, while senior Kathryn Oates (Liberty Township, Ohio / Cincinnati Christian) anchored the defense with a team-leading nine digs.
In the final match of the weekend, the Flying Dutch battled through a grueling five-set marathon against Ohio Wesleyan, ultimately dropping a tight 3–2 decision (28–26, 25–18, 15–25, 17–25, 15–12).
After dropping two tight opening sets, Hope showed great resilience by roaring back to capture sets three and four. The Flying Dutch hit a blistering .414 in the fourth frame to force the decisive fifth set. However, Ohio Wesleyan held off the late surge in the fifth to secure the match.
Burbridge delivered another stellar effort at the net, hammering down a team-high 13 kills with a .565 attack percentage while adding five blocks.
Junior Angie Butler (Novi, Michigan / Butler) posted 12 kills, and sophomore Kiera Morrison (Bartlett, Illinois / Wheaton Academy) chipped in nine kills and three service aces.
Hehl recorded a double-double with 47 assists and 10 digs while adding five blocks at the net. Defensively, Oates posted a team-high 17 digs, and freshan Maddie Ostrander (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Catholic Central) led the blocking effort with six total blocks.
Hope returns to action on Thursday, Sept., 17 at 7 p.m. Central on the road in Chicago, Illinios to take on North Park University.
