FOOTBALL
The Flying Dutchmen clinched a share of their first Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championship since 2007 with a 49-21 victory over the Hornets. The victory in the Wooden Shoes Rivalry also guarantees Hope a berth in the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Flying Dutchmen (8-1, 6-0 MIAA) can clinch an outright MIAA title next Saturday at Ray and Sue Smith Stadium against Adrian College. The MIAA championship is the 21st in Hope’s history, and the first for Peter Stuursma in his four seasons as Hope’s coach. The Flying Dutchmen once again used their high-powered rushing attack to overcome a gritty Kalamazoo team that trailed by only seven points early in the second half. Hope piled up a season-high 453 rushing yards and got 100-yard rushing performances from three different backs: quarterback Mason Opple of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville), running back Connor Mellon of Adrian, Michigan (Madison) and Kenyea Houston of Chicago, Illinois (Westinghouse Prep).
MEN'S SOCCER
The Hope College men's soccer team received an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament after finishing runner-up in the MIAA Tournament. On Saturday, the Flying Dutchmen played Calvin to a scoreless draw but lost the shootout, 4-3. Goalie Blair McCormick of Wadsworth, Illinois (Warren Township HS) made four saves against the Knights in Hope's 11th shutout of the season. On Wednesday, the Flying Dutchmen defeated Kalamazoo in the semifinals. Senior defender Jordan Hooker of Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) and sophomore midfielder Ryan Flynn of Bloomington, Illinois (Bloomington) scored.
VOLLEYBALL
The 10th-ranked Hope College volleyball team received an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament after finishing runner-up in the MIAA Tournament. On Saturday, the Flying Dutch lost the final at Calvin in four sets. Sophomore middle hitter McKenna Otto of Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton North HS) led the team with 16 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Molly Ligon of Beverly HIlls, Michigan (Birmingham Seaholm) had 14 kills and a team-high five block assists. On Friday, Hope defeated Trine in the semifinals in three sets. Molly Ligon's 13 kills and five blocks topped the Flying Dutch.
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
The nationally ranked Flying Dutch opened the season by winning the Augustana (Illinois) Tournament with victories against Luther (Iowa), 78-48, and Benedictine (Illinois), 92-48. Junior guard Sydney Muller of Grand Rapids, Michigan (GR Christian HS) was named Tournament MVP after scoring 17 points on Friday against Luther and 13 on Saturday against Benedictine. Hope held its opponents to a combined 34.3 percent field-goal shooting.
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Tyler George and Evan Thomas helped the Flying Dutchmen hand head coach Greg Mitchell his 100th career college coaching victory with an 84-72 win against Ripon (Wisconsin). Thomas, in his first Hope game, scored a team-high 19 points off the bench. The freshman from Okemos, Michigan (Okemos HS), shot 60 percent from the floor in 24 minutes. George, making his first collegiate start, added a career-high 18 points. The sophomore from Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Central) shot 70 percent from the floor while playing a career-high 30 minutes.WOMEN'S SOCCER
The Flying Dutch finished the 2019 season with a 6-5-6 overall record after losing to Kalamazoo College, 2-0, in the semifinals of MIAA Tournament. Goalie Jordanne Ellingboe of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven) made two saves. The loss ended a run of seven consecutive MIAA Tournament final appearances.
