ALBION, Mich. -- The Albion College volleyball team hung tough on Friday evening, but the Britons were unable to keep pace with No. 12 Hope College. 

Inside a raucous Kresge Gymnasium, the Britons battled Hope to four-sets, highlighted by a 26-24 win in the stanza, but the visitors walked away with a 3-1 victory (25-19, 24-26, 25-14, 25-19). 

After dropping the opening set, Albion battled back in the second frame. The Brits swung at a match-best .227 clip during the set and floored 15 kills to take the set from the Flying Dutch. After slipping behind, 18-17, Albion responded with three-straight points, as Carly Frank and Margaret Jones each floored a kill, while Paige Williamson added an ace to push ahead, 20-18. 

The two sides traded blows from there, as Hope eventually knotted the score at 24-24. The Britons didn't waver as Jones floored a kill and served up an ace to seal the set for the Britons. 

Albion was unable to capitalize on the second set. The Flying Dutch responded with a strong showing at the service line in the third set to take the frame and stave off the Britons' comeback. The Brits floored 11 kills in the fourth and final set, but an early lead from Hope proved to be too much to overcome to force a fifth set. 

Frank led Albion's offense with 14 kills. Kayda Herrick and Jones added eight and seven kills, respectively, while Molly Edmunds tallied 32 assists and 11 digs. Williamson finished with a match-high-tying 18 digs. Camille Oxley and Herrick finished in double digits in digs alongside Williamson with 12 and 10 respectively. 

Up Next
The Brits will look to bounce back on Wednesday, October 22, when they head to Angola, Indiana to battle Trine University. First serve against the Thunder is scheduled for 6:30 pm.