GRAND RAPIDS, MI– At the Midwest Invite, UC Santa Cruz Women's Volleyball finished their last match against Hope College. The team lost their match against third-ranked nationally Hope College 1-3 (9-25, 25-20, 9-25, 12-25).
 
The first set started with Hope College in the lead (0-7). Then, UC Santa Cruz was able to put the first point to the scoreboard with a double block from Vanessa Ojeikere and Sydney Ahrendt. The Banana Slugs continued to add points with kills by Peyton Tazelaar and Drew Bryant, and another double block from Kelly Ann Greene and Ashley Magley. However, Hope College was able to secure this set with a score of 9-25.
 
The second set was a comeback for the Banana Slugs, who brought high intensity with the score continuing to go back and forth. After a service ace by Tazelaar that helped the Banana Slugs stay in the lead with Hope, UC Santa Cruz started gaining momentum and was in the lead the rest of the game (6-6). Tazelaar got back-to-back service aces that helped the Banana Slugs rack up points on the board (23-18). The set ended with a service error that let the Banana Slugs win this set 25-20.
 
The third set started off with Hope and UC Santa Cruz having a close match with Greene, Bryant, and Tazelaar adding points to the board with fantastic kills (5-6). Yet, Hope College came back and won this set 9-25. The final set did not end in the Banana Slugs' favor and Hope College ended up winning the set 12-25.
 
Tazelaar had the most kills for the third match in a row with 9 and the most total attacks with 33. Sydney May had 18 assists and Emily Pasion had the team-high in digs with 10. Pasion is now third in career digs at UC Santa Cruz with 978.
 
On Saturday October 28th at 7:00 PM, the Banana Slugs will be playing Feather River College at the West Field House for Senior Day.