Hope's Ana Grunewald
VOLLEYBALL
The Hope College volleyball team closed out its first match in 489 days in fantastic fashion.
The Flying Dutch scored eight of the final nine points, including the last five in a row, against Alma College during Friday’s season opener.
Playing for the first time since November 16, 2019 NCAA Division III Tournament regional final, Hope’s late surge secured a 25-17, 25-20, 25-22 victory at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Outside hitter Ana Grunewald topped the Flying Dutch with a game-high 12 kills.
The junior from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids) also recorded eight digs.
Two of Grunewald’s teammates chipped in seven kills apiece: junior middle hitter McKenna Otto of Wheaton, Illinois (Wheaton North) and sophomore middle hitter Charlotte Brecht of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan (Grosse Pointe South).
Senior setter Adair Cutler of Lansing, Michigan (Lansing Christian) totaled 24 assists.
The match counted in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association standings.
Hope’s next match is Friday, March 26 against Albion College at DeVos Fieldhouse.
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
A record five members of the Hope College women’s indoor track and field team have claimed all-region honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2021 indoor season. Grace Behrens, Claire Benedict, Jacinda Cole, Hannah Kenny, and Ana Tucker all earned the distinction.
To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must be one of the top-5 individuals in their respective region on the final TFRRS Descending Order List. In addition, each member of a region’s top-3 relay team was also selected for distinction.
Tucker is all-region in four events. The sophomore exercise major from Midland, Michigan (H.H. Dow) is honored in four events.
In the 3,000 meters, Tucker clocked the fastest time in NCAA Division III with a school-record performance of 9:39.72. In the 1 mile run, Tucker recorded the top effort in the Great Lakes Region and the third-fastest in the nation with a school-record time of 4:57.92. In the 5,000 meters, Tucker was fastest in the Great Lakes Region and third-fastest in Division III with a school-record run of 17:11.98.
The Flying Dutch also clocked Division III’s fastest time in the distance medley relay. Behrens, Cole, Kenny and Tucker posted the only sub-12 minute mile in the nation with a school-record time of 11:58.53.
Cole is a senior English Language Arts education major from Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa). Kenny is a senior Spanish and social work major from Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven). Behrens is a sophomore environmental science major from Mishawaka, Indiana (Trinity School at Greenlawn).
In the 1-mile run, Cole ranked third in the Great Lakes Region and ninth in Division III with a time of 5:01.90. In the 800 meters, Cole placed third in the Great Lakes Region and 27th nationally with a time of 2:19.88.
In the 400 meters, Behrens ranked third in the Great Lakes Region and 27th in Division III with a time of 59.95.
The 4×400 relay of Behrens, Benedict, Coe and Kenny finished third in the Great Lakes Region and 39th nationally with a time of 4:08.82.
Benedict is a sophomore chemistry and Spanish major from Ada, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern).
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Hope College’s Nick Hoffman has earned all-region honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2021 indoor season.
The junior public accounting major from Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) claimed the distinction in two events: the 1-mile run and the 3,000 meters. To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must be one of the top-5 individuals in their respective region on the final TFRRS Descending Order List.
In the 1-mile run, Hoffman finished third in the Great Lakes Region and fifth in NCAA Division III with a school-record time of 4:12.38. In the 3,000 meters, Hoffman ranked fourth in the Great Lakes Region and 11th nationally with a school-record time of 8 minutes, 31.93 seconds.
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