With the outcome hanging in balance, the seventh-ranked Hope College volleyball team responded in the fifth set with a flurry that put away a pesky opponent.
The Flying Dutch topped Adrian College 16-25, 25-11, 25-23, 23-25, 15-7 on Saturday at DeVos Fieldhouse after scoring seven of the first eight points in the decisive final set.
Hope now heads into Wednesday's showdown with top-ranked Calvin at DeVos Fieldhouse with a 13-1 overall record and a 6-0 mark against Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association opponents. Calvin is 12-0 overall and 6-0 in league play.
The Flying Dutch pushed their win streak to five games behind a season-high 18 kills from senior Sarah Feldpausch of White Cloud, Michigan (White Cloud HS), 15 from senior Courtney Van Houzen of Traverse City, Michigan (West) and 13 from sophomore Katie Rietberg of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS).
Kills from Van Houzen and Feldpausch helped Hope jump out to a commanding lead in the fifth set. Two service aces from junior Sophia Hackett of Indianapolis, Indiana (Brebeuf Jesuit Prep) helped as well.
The Flying Dutch rebounded after Adrian (8-6, 4-2 MIAA) scored the final two points of the fourth set to force a fifth one.
It was the third five-set win of the season for the Flying Dutch but first in MIAA play.
Hackett totaled 50 assists. Senior Alexis Thompson of Monroe, Michigan (St. Mary Catholic Central) led Hope with 26 digs.