Why Hope’s NCAA runner-up finish is just the beginning
Dan D'Addona
CLAREMONT, Calif. – It was the end of a stunning run, but it was the start of something really special brewing at Hope College.
The Flying Dutch came up just short of the ultimate goal of an NCAA championship, with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 loss to Juniata, but with all but one player returning next year, this was the huge start to what could be a special era of Hope volleyball.
Hope brings home a national runner-up trophy after a stunning 32-3 season that saw the Flying Dutch win four consecutive five-set matches in the NCAA tournament to reach the final.
“I am super proud of our team and thankful for the opportunity I have to be a part of this group. It is a group that is just special. They make each other better and make me better. I am very thankful the season that we had and the ways their relationships are going to continue,” Hope coach Becky Schmidt said. “You learn how to win matches in the NCAA tournament. We have had a lot of opportunities to learn. This was a good learning opportunity. It is an experience that impacts the way the returning players approach everything. We are going to have some great talent coming back.”
All of the attention brought by four Division I tranfers in the past two seasons, all of the expectations and all of the potential was risen to, and embraced.
For Hope, libero Olivia Fiebing is the lone senior graduating.
“This was the greatest learning experience of my life. I have learned so much about relationships, people, trust. Knowing I had this experience is just so special,” she said.
Fiebing was stellar during the season and especially in the postseason. Her leadership will be tough to replace.
“Olivia has been an incredible leader for us. She is a warrior, not only on the court, but in the heart,” Schmidt said.
But the experience this group returns, capped by a run to the final, will be paramount to the program’s future, which looks extremely bright.
National Player of the Year Addie VanderWeide returns, along with fellow All-Americans Lauren Lee and Alison DeWeerd.
It is easy to forget that Hope’s best player from last year, Annie Lockett, has been injured all season. A healthy Lockett will be another huge boost for a team already stacked with hitters.
Kamryn Burbridge, Brooke Fox and Liz VanderSlice will have another year under their belts, while Sammie Seib, Grace Marshall and Natalie Dunn will be looked to for more leadership.
It was an incredible season, but again, could be just the beginning.
The sets
Burbridge had four kills and two blocks in the first 10 points as Hope led 7-3. But Juniata made some quick adjustments and led 16-13 after some strong serving. Kennedy Christy served three aces in a four-point span and it was 20-13.
Alison DeWeerdt put a kill down after a marathon point to tie the set 21-21, but Juniata claimed the first set 25-22.
It was just the fourth time all season that Hope did not win the first set.
In the second set, Juniata pulled in front with a 7-2 run to make it 17-12 and the Eagles went on to take the second set 25-20. Juniata was able to use its block to alter Hope’s offense.
Juniata kept up the blocking in the third set and led 7-3. The strong serving continued, too, and Hope could not get its offense in system. Christy served back-to-back aces to make it 17-12, her fifth and sixth ace of the match. Juniata held on for a 25-21 win.
“If you were going to write a textbook about how to be a good volleyball team, you would start with the service line. Juniata had a lot of pace and float and that is a difficult combination and really took us out of rhythm,” Schmidt said. “We served tough as well, but they scored points with their serve.”
By the numbers
Juniata won its second consecutive NCAA championship with the win over Hope the program’s 62nd consecutive win. The Eagles dropped just one set the entire tournament.
Juniata’s Audrey Muth had 11 kills, while Christy and Mackenzie Coley each had nine. Olivia Foley had 32 assists and 13 digs, earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
This was Hope’s third Final Four appearance and second time in the championship match, after winning the title in 2014.
DeWeerd and Brooke Fox each had eigth kills, Burbridge had seven and VanderWeide had six. Burbridge and VanderWeide were named to the alltournament team.
Lauren Lee had 24 assists. Fiebing had 23 digs and VanderWeide had 13.
“Division III volleyball is something that is really special,” DeWeerd said.
And the journey for most has just begun. Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.