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HOLLAND, Mich. - The seventh-ranked Calvin University women's volleyball team dropped its match in four sets to number-three Hope College by the scores of 25-21, 28-26, 22-25 and 25-18.

Calvin (13-3, 1-1) came roaring out of the gates to start the match, as Aerin Baker (Saugatuck, Mich./Saugatuck) led an early 12-6 run to give the Knights the lead. 

Hope (15-1, 3-0) would respond, however, taking advantage of some passing struggles for the Knights to close the set on a 10-3 run to win the game despite eight Baker kills in the set.

The critical second set went back and fourth, with 11 ties and four lead changes as the teams fought for control of the match. 

After Baker was the lone hitter to get going in the opening set, Gabriella Kellogg (Belleville, Mich./Plymouth Christian Academy) and Emma Ekblaw (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton) came alive in the second set with 11 combined kills. The Knights served for the set with a 24-23 lead late, but the Flying Dutch scrambled with several diving saves to keep the set alive, and then closed out the game 28-26 to push their lead to 2-0 overall.

Calvin would not go quietly, however, as Kellogg continued to roll with five kills in the third set, while Tryna Vander Zwaag (Hamilton, MIch./Holland Christian) chipped in with two service aces to push the Knights to a 25-22 win and force a fourth set.

The momentum would not last for Calvin, however, as the Flying Dutch took control early in the fourth game and held off a run of five straight Calvin points late to secure the match with a 25-18 set-four win.

Baker finished the game with a team-best 16 kills, with Kellogg adding 15 thanks to a .314 attack efficiency. Ekblaw also finished in double figures with 13 kills and a .417 attack percentage. 

Aubrey Wrubel (Jenison, Mich./Jenison), Avery Ekkens (Portage, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) and Vander Zwaag each finished with 16 digs, with Vander Zwaag also adding 20 assists and three aces. 

The loss was just the second MIAA defeat for the Knights since the start of the 2015 season, a stretch in which the Knights held an 86-1 league mark. 

COACH'S COMMENT: "I thought there a few too many mistakes," Calvin head women's volleyball coach Dr. Amber Warners said. "I just think they're more seasoned than we are, and they should be the players they've got. But I really like our group. We have a lot of talent and we improve every day. It was a typical Hope/Calvin match and I'm proud of the way we fought."

NEXT UP: Calvin women's volleyball will return to action on Tuesday, October 10, when it hosts Trine University in a match scheduled to start at 6:30 PM.