BASKETBALL
Women’s Basketball Wins Third National Title
The long-awaited crowning achievement for the Hope College women’s basketball team meant much more than just the national championship trophy hoisted in the air.
The Flying Dutch captured their third NCAA title on Saturday with a 71-58 victory against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at Duquesne University’s UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Hope (32-1) joined the 2005-2006 and 1989-1990 Flying Dutch teams as women’s basketball national champions. This season’s team completed the journey previously halted for consecutive seasons because of the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled Division III postseason play.
The Flying Dutch are now one of three Division III teams with at least three national championships. Washington University in St. Louis has claimed five titles; Amherst College (Mass.) also has three.
“The most special thing is ‘Yes, winning,’ but it is this group of girls,” fifth-year senior Olivia Voskuil said during the post-game press conference. “I’m going to never forget this. They’re going to be my best friends the rest of my life. I love them.”
Senior Sydney Muller (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) finished with 18 points and a team-best five assists. She was named the NCAA Championships’ Most Outstanding Player.
Senior Olivia Voskuil (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Senior Kate Majerus (Sycamore, Illinois / Sycamore) and junior Claire Baguley (Ada, Michigan / Forest Hills Central) added eight points apiece.
WOMEN’S SWIM/DIVE
Freshman Swims to Two All-America Performances
A sensational debut season for Hope College swimmer Sara Kraus ended with two All-America performances.
The freshman from Rockford, Michigan (Rockford HS) became the Flying Dutch’s fourth All-American in the 200-yard backstroke on Saturday in Indianapolis. Kraus clocked a fifth-place time of 1 minutes, 59.29 seconds.
On Friday, Kraus became the Flying Dutch’s seventh All-American in the 100 backstroke.
Head coach Jake Taber said Kraus quickly separated herself last fall in the 200 backstroke.
“Coming into the meet, the 200 back was her best event. It was all year long,” Taber said. “We saw that in the first meet at Hillsdale College. A big part is just the way her stroke sets up. It’s really balanced. She grabs good water early and holds throughout. It came together really well for her.”
In the 200 backstroke, Kraus joins as an All-American 1994 national champion Susan Looman, 2019 runner-up Meg Peel, and 1998 third-place finisher Laural Horton.
Kraus helped the Flying Dutch finish in 18th place in the team standings with 40 points.
The top 20 finish at nationals was Hope’s first since an 18th-place finish in 2008-09.
MEN’S SWIM/DIVE
Flying Dutchmen Finished 36th at NCAA Championships
The Hope College men’s swimming and diving team is looking forward to a promising future after competing at the NCAA Division III Championships this weekend in Indianapolis.
With four underclassmen competing, the Flying Dutchmen placed 36th in the team standings with five points.
It is Hope’s highest finish at nationals since a 26th-place at the 2010 NCAA Championships.
“It’s a young team,” head coach Jake Taber said after Saturday’s finale of the four-day meet. “We were incredibly proud of our conference championship. We were excited to raise a banner for the first time since 2010. I think this week showed us what’s around the country and some things we need to do to continue to elevate our program.
“This experience will have us motivated and hungry.”
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