No surprises this time for the Hope College volleyball team, just another outstanding effort at the service line from Calvin College. The Knights won the 90th meeting between the nationally ranked rivals 25-23, 25-17, 25-19 on Wednesday at DeVos Fieldhouse in a similar fashion to their victory last month in Grand Rapids.
"Calvin's consistency with their serving is something that took us off guard the first time we played them. It was not something that took us off guard this time, but they were still very good from the service line," Hope coach Becky Schmidt said. "We need to step up and deliver in serve receive more effectively. We need to be better in finding a way to manufacture some kills.
"I am confident that with continued disciplined work, we are a team that can get to that level. We are not doing it right now. We need to find ways to hold ourselves to those high standards and be able to dig down deep when it is needed."
The loss snapped a seven-game win streak for 13th-ranked Hope, which is now 14-5 overall and 9-2 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association play.
Fifth-ranked Calvin improved to 17-3 overall and 11-0 in MIAA matches.
Freshman Katie Rietberg of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS), collected eight kills to lead Hope.
Junior Courtney Van Houzen of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City West HS), and sophomore Haley Muller of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian HS), chipped in five kills apiece. The Flying Dutch hit .073 as a team.
Maggie Kamp topped Calvin with 15 kills at a .281 hitting percentage.
The Knights collected eight aces to Hope's four. Two aces recorded the final two points of the first set.
Senior Allie Mitchell of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern HS), totaled a match-high 14 digs for the Flying Dutch.
Hope heads to Calvin this weekend for the Midwest Invitational. The Flying Dutch play No. 11 Carthage, Wisconsin, and Bluffton, Ohio on Friday at noon and 7 p.m., respectively, and No. 9 Eastern, Pennsylvania, and No. 18 Clarkson, N.Y., on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
