GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Elmhurst volleyball team opened play at Calvin College's Midwest Invitational by falling 25-23, 25-17, 25-16 to 20th-ranked Hope College. 

Hope (16-4) jumped out to a 20-13 lead in the opening set before Elmhurst mounted a rally. The Bluejays used a 10-3 run to pull even at 23-23, but Hope won the final two points to close out the set. 

The Flying Dutch turned a 6-5 lead in the second set into a 21-14 edge after using a 15-9 run en route to the 25-17 win. Hope raced out to a 10-1 lead in the third set and never looked back, closing out the set at 25-16 to score the victory.


The Bluejays finished the contest hitting .101 with 34 kills and 20 errors in 138 attacks. Bailey Brouwer led the Bluejays in the loss with 10 kills. Emily Duis finished with eight and Ellie Burzlaff added six. Sabrina Yamashita tallied 13 assists while Valerie Thomas led the team in digs with 17.

Grace Pettinger led Hope with 14 kills while McKenna Otto finished with 12. Gabbi Vachon totaled a match-high 31 digs. 

Elmhurst takes on Ithaca and Calvin in the tournament's second day (October 19).