In a land the place spellbinding tales are informed, the Hope School volleyball group is serving up its personal enchanting script.
Following an unprecedented path within the historical past of the NCAA Division III Championships, the second-ranked Flying Dutch are enjoying for a second nationwide title in program historical past this weekend in Claremont, California, 42 miles exterior of Hollywood.
Hope (32-2) earned a showdown in opposition to reigning nationwide champion and top-ranked Juniata School (Pa.) by topping eighth-ranked however Cinderella-story Claremont-Mudd Scripps 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 15-10 on Thursday.
The five-set victory was the Flying Dutch’s fourth such match in a row — essentially the most by any group because the NCAA Division III Girls’s Volleyball Championships began in 1981.
Hendrix School (Ark.) is the one different program to win a minimum of three five-set matches in a row, engaging in that feat in 2004 between the regional semifinals and the nationwide quarterfinals.
Hope’s solid is ideal, two-time All-American setter Lauren Lee mentioned.
“There is no such thing as a group I might somewhat be with on this nationwide championship,” mentioned Lee, whose group will face Juniata School (Pa.) on Saturday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. Japanese at Claremont’s Roberts Pavilion. Hope is looking for its first nationwide title since 2014.
“I used to be getting a little bit emotional coming over right here. I used to be wanting round in any respect my gamers, and I am ‘I really like these ladies,'” Lee mentioned. “I look in everybody’s eyes, and I see the love between one another and hardships every and everyone has endured by way of. I do know the fifth set is nothing in comparison with what these ladies have been by way of, they usually have my again. Being on this nationwide championship with my finest pals is basically enjoyable.”
Thursday’s thriller adopted five-set victories over No. 9 Johns Hopkins College (Md.) within the nationwide quarterfinals on Wednesday, No. 17 Transylvania College (Ky.) within the regional finals on November 18 and No. 23 Wisconsin-Stevens Level within the regional semifinals.
This match featured a number of twists. The winner between Hope and C-M-S earned a showdown with second-ranked and unbeaten Juniata, which swept sixth-ranked New York College, 25-15, 25-19, 25-20, in Thursday’s first quarterfinal. Juniata now owns a 61-match profitable streak that features a 2022 nationwide quarterfinal, four-set victory in opposition to the Flying Dutch.
Additionally, the Athenas of C-M-S have been enjoying the nationwide semifinal on their very own court docket after upsetting top-seeded and third-ranked College of Wisconsin-Oshkosh within the quarterfinals.
Roberts Pavilion drew 1,806 followers to look at the present. The vast majority of the boisterous crowd donned their favourite faculties’ cardinal-red and gold colours. With a big and vocal C-M-S pupil part, the stage seemed much like a showdown in “The Rivalry” in opposition to Calvin College.
The Athenas gave their loyal followers loads of causes to cheer. After falling behind 2-0, together with a second-set loss to Hope that featured 12 tie scores and 4 lead adjustments, C-M-S took the subsequent two units, together with a fourth set with eight tie scores and 4 league adjustments.
The drama constructed through the fifth set. There have been eight tie scores and 4 lead adjustments.
Tied 9-9, the final of Lee’s 5 kills put Hope forward for good. The Flying Dutch scored 5 of the ultimate six factors, together with a service ace from junior All-American Addie VanderWeide to arrange the one-and-only match level and a C-M-S assault error for match level.
“Credit score to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on a implausible season. They actually battled,” head coach Becky Schmidt mentioned. “They continued to raise their play as this complete season went on. I used to be impressed with their aggressiveness, ways and recreation planning. The Claremont college students have been superior and created an unbelievable ambiance.
“We talked a little bit bit about [the surroundings]. We have been in some hostile environments earlier than and know tips on how to deal with these environments. I believed within the fifth set we have been a little bit extra aggressive on the internet and aggressive with confidence.”
Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Saline HS) took centerstage by recording a career-best 60 assists, together with six through the remaining set. The Flying Dutch outhit C-M-S, .298 to .247.
VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) posted a game-high 24 kills with a .345 assault proportion. The skin hitter outdueled C-M-S All-American and 2022 AVCA Division III Participant of the 12 months Jenna Holmes, who had 21 kills.
Freshman center blocker Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) put down 16 kills for Hope.
Sophomore exterior hitter Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township) chipped in 12 kills.
Junior exterior hitter Liz VanderSlice (Wyoming, Michigan / Grandville) and senior center blocker Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian) added eight and 7 kills, respectively.
Senior libero Olivia Fiebing (Traverse Metropolis, Michigan / T.C. Central) posted a team-best 24 digs.
Everybody helped write one other memorable chapter within the 2023 season. The Flying Dutch now have gained seven five-set matches in NCAA Championships play courting again to the 2019 season.
“Fifth set or not, our skill to form of quiet the noise, quiet the voice in our head that is something apart from the present play at hand is basically particular,” Fiebing mentioned. “Our skill to develop from each second — and to have that development mindset — are what in the end permits us to ship.”
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