Volleyball team loses to Hope in three sets

HOLLAND, Mich. – The Olivet College volleyball team fell to defending NCAA Division III national champion Hope College in three sets (25-20, 25-19, 25-7) tonight at the DeVos Fieldhouse in Holland.

In the first set, neither team led by more than two points until the Flying Dutch seized a three-point advantage at 9-6. The Comets fought back and tied the set at 11-11 and 12-12. Hope grabbed a pair of two-point leads, 14-12 and 16-14 until Olivet scored two straight points to knot the score at 16-16.

The Flying Dutch put seven of the next nine points on the scoreboard to go up 23-18 for their largest lead of the set. The teams traded points for the rest of the set, resulting in the 25-20 final.

The second set was very similar to the opening set, as neither team had more than a one-point lead until went ahead 13-11 and 15-13. From there, Hope scored four straight points to go up 19-13. The Comets scored one point before the Flying Dutch scored two straight to take their largest lead of the set, 21-14.

The closest Olivet would get the rest of the way was four points, 23-19. Hope jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the third set and never looked back.

The Comets finished the match with 26 kills, including eight apiece for junior Re'Gene Thompson and sophomore Allison Turner. Senior Marissa Guile was next with six kills. Junior setter Danielle Bearden dished out 23 assists. Junior Mona Hinamanu led the defense with 13 digs.

Olivet starts the second half of its league schedule Saturday when it plays an 11 a.m. match at Albion College.