Volleyball begins Midwest Invitational with loss to #3 Hope

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Defiance College volleyball team opened up the Midwest Invitational Friday night at Calvin University against the number three ranked team in the country, Hope College. The Yellow Jackets were defeated in straight sets (9-25, 10-25, 9-25)

Hope improves to 18-1 with the win and the loss drops Defiance to 3-17.

Hope scored first in set one and led the entire way. The first point for Defiance was a kill from Ellie Belvo which momentarily tied it at one and the Flying Dutch would win the next four to take a 5-1 lead. The Yellow Jackets trailed 11-5 after a service error from Samantha Seib. After that, Hope would win 14 of the final 19 points to win the set. Along with Belvo, Kaylynn Wellman and Jaelyn Tomoletz both recorded kills in the set.

Abby Altizer started the second with a kill and Emma Chafins was credited with the assist. The Flying Dutch won the next two points and would lead the rest of the way. A kill by Shelby Clements made it 5-3, but then Hope won the next 11 points to take a commanding 16-3 lead. The Yellow Jackets got two kills from Jamia Murray late in the set but it wasn't enough as the Flying Dutch closed it out by winning the final two points to take set two, 25-10.

Hope started the first set with a service ace and two kills and would once again lead wire-to-wire. A few errors from Hope and a kill by Shelby Clements made it 5-4. A kill by Madison Schoenauer made it 6-5 but the Flying Dutch won the next seven to lead 13-5. The other offensive points for Defiance in the set were kills by Jamia Murray and Jaelyn Tomoletz. Kate Luurtsema closed out the set and match for Hope with a kill.

Hope finished the match with 48 kills, 44 assists, and 49 digs. The Yellow Jackets finished with 17 kills, 14 assists, and 30 digs. 

Jaelyn Tomoletz led the team in kills with five and Courtney Maxwell recorded a team-high five assists. Emma Chafins recorded 10 digs and Amina Chamoun added six. 

The Yellow Jackets play Millikin tomorrow at 11 a.m. and Susquehanna at 1 p.m. to wrap up non-conference play. Both games will be played at Calvin University as part of the Midwest Invitational.