December 20 Hope Sports Report

Three Hope College student-athletes have received Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America: volleyball seniors Tracy Westra and McKenna Otto and football junior Daniel Romano. Westra, an environmental engineering major, pictured top right, is a first-team selection. Otto, a biomechanical engineering major, pictured bottom left, is a second-team honoree for the second consecutive season. Romano, a biomechanical engineering major, is a second team honoree.

The No.1-ranked women’s basketball team stood up to the challenge against their first Top-10 ranked opponent, Trine University, with a 70-61 win. Kenedy Schoonveld led the Flying Dutch in their victory over the No. 7 team in the country with 20 points. Kate Majerus would come through with a team-high eight rebounds, and Olivia Voskuil topped off the win with four blocks. Hope goes on holiday break and returns to action on Wednesday, Dec. 29 against Central College (Iowa) in Orlando Florida at the RDV Sportsplex.

Hope College center Olivia Voskuil became the Flying Dutch’s all-time blocked shot leader during Saturday’s victory at Trine University. The senior rejected four Thunder shots to give her 219 for her career. Voskuil surpassed Carrie Snikkers ’11 who blocked 215 shots during her Hope career. Voskuil leads the MIAA in blocks this season and is ranked in the Top 20 nationally by averaging 2.8 blocks per game.

Senior Josh Lilja and the Hope College’s men’s basketball team grabbed the win over Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Saturday in their final home game of the semester, 71-57. Hope goes on holiday break and returns to action on Dec. 28-29 with games against Central College (Iowa) and North Central College (Ill.) in Orlando, Florida at the RDV Sportsplex.