Hours earlier than the season’s greatest match — to date — the second-ranked Hope Faculty volleyball staff stopped on the bus journey to the nationwide quarterfinals to play at an arcade.
For about 20 minutes, the Flying Dutch let their internal child out and reveled in just a few video games of Pop-A-Shot, Pump-It-Up, Quik Drop, Pace of Gentle and Wheel of Fortune at John’s Unbelievable Pizza in Ontario, California. Afterward, they gleefully danced on the bus earlier than arriving on the enviornment in close by Claremont.
Because the stress rose on Wednesday amid one other opponent’s spirited comeback on the NCAA Division III Championships, Hope relied on dwelling joyfully within the second collectively to search out what they wanted to earn one other thrilling five-set victory.
The Flying Dutch outlasted ninth-ranked Johns Hopkins College (Md.), 25-18, 27-25, 26-28, 14-25, 15-12, at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to assert their third nationwide semifinal look and their first since their 2014 nationwide championship run.
Hope (31-1) superior to face championships-host and eighth-ranked C-M-S (26-5) within the semifinals on Thursday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m. Pacific on ncaa.com. The Athenas swept top-seeded and third-ranked Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Wednesday’s last quarterfinal.
It it a joyride proper now for the Flying Dutch? Completely, head coach Becky Schmidt mentioned.
“That is one thing we have completed earlier than, the place we simply wish to earlier than the match, blow off a little bit steam, have some enjoyable and produce that pleasure to what it’s we’re doing. … There are a number of issues we attempt to do to maintain Hope Volleyball bizarre and a little bit enjoyable,” Schmidt mentioned. “The pregame discuss from Carrie Lehocky, affiliate head coach, talked rather a lot about being youngsters on the market, keep in mind the sport that you simply fell in love with, keep in mind what it is prefer to be a child and play with none concern, simply go on the market with pleasure and keenness.
“We proceed to search out methods to try this. You see a few of the staff’s expressions on faces in huddles. More often than not, the conversations weren’t about techniques, it was about physique language and coronary heart, and discovering that groove that has resulted in us enjoying with a number of grit.”
Hope relied on its mettle once more prefer it did throughout five-set victories at DeVos Fieldhouse on Friday-Saturday, Nov. 17-18, towards Wisconsin-Stevens Level through the regional semifinals and Transylvania (Ky.) through the regional last.
For the third consecutive postseason match, the Flying Dutch confronted a rallying opponent who wouldn’t go away simply. After Johns Hopkins (28-5) survived 4 match factors within the third set, the Bluejays dominated the fourth set to arrange a first-to-15 showdown within the fifth set.
Hope jumped out an early 5-1 lead, however Johns Hopkins reeled off the subsequent 4 factors to drag even. After taking two-point leads on two events, the Bluejays scored 5 factors in a span of six serves for an 11-9 lead.
Two kills from junior blocker Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian) began a decisive run of 5 factors for the Flying Dutch.
Junior exterior hitter Addie VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) and sophomore exterior hitter Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township) adopted with kills of their very own.
A Fox service ace gave Hope a match level once more. This time, after one Johns Hopkins sideout, DeWeerd nimbly dropped a deke over the Johns Hopkins block simply to the left of the close to sideline and the ultimate level.
“Credit score to Johns Hopkins and the best way they fought via that match. They by no means gave up within the third and fourth units,” Schmidt mentioned. “They actually elevated their service stress and obtained us into some troublesome positions. They made it rather a lot simpler to have the ability to assault towards us.
“I am actually happy with our staff’s resolve to steal momentum again in that fifth set and to search out that gritty play that is been a part of our identification the previous few weeks — and all season.”
VanderWeide, an American Volleyball Coaches Affiliation First Staff All-American, completed with a match-high 23 kills. Johns Hopkins obtained 18 kills apiece from Chidinma Onukugha and Simone Adam.
Sophomore setter and AVCA Second Staff All-American Lauren Lee (Wyoming, Michigan / Grandville) directed the Hope assault and picked up a season-high 58 assists.
Junior exterior hitter Liz VanderSlice (Wyoming, Michigan / Grandville) additionally reached double figures for Hope with 12 kills.
DeWeerd, an AVCA Honorable Point out All-American, totaled 11 kills.
“We reset our minds,” DeWeerd mentioned of her staff’s method to the fifth set. “We begin with a prayer [then] we are saying received two, misplaced two, there’s obtained to be a change that occurs. I believe all of us knew that and have been able to make that change.
“From there on out, it was play with much less aggression and extra love. A lot pent-up power is coming via the 4 units, the fifth set it’ll change. We have been in a position to make that change and play with pleasure and enjoyable.”
Like youngsters in an arcade.
Gallery: (11-30-2023) NCAA DIII Volleyball Quarterfinal
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