The Hope College volleyball team is the unanimous favorite in the 2024 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll.
The defending league champion Flying Dutch received all eight possible first-place votes.
Hope, the 2023 NCAA Division III national runner-up, topped the nine-team preseason poll with eight points.
Coaches could not vote for their team. Calvin University finished second with one first-place vote and 16 points. Albion College placed third with 22 points and was followed by Adrian College (29 points), Trine University (35), The University of Olivet (49), Alma College (50), Kalamazoo College (56) and Saint Mary’s College (59).
Led by head coach Becky Schmidt, Hope returns American Volleyball Coaches Association Co-National Player of the Year and MIAA MVP Addie VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian HS).
The 6-1 VanderWeide set a Hope record last season with 535 kills.
The Flying Dutch also bring back junior setter Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Saline), a two-time AVCA All-American and All-MIAA honoree, senior middle hitter Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian), a two-time All-MIAA selection, and sophomore middle hitter Kamryn Burbridge, an All-MIAA honoree.
Hope finished last season with a 32-3 overall record and an 8-0 mark in MIAA play. This is Schmidt’s 21st season as head coach at her alma mater.
The Flying Dutch open the season on Friday-Saturday, Aug. 30-31, at The University of Northwestern (Minn.) Aces of Joy Tournament.
Hope’s home opener is Friday-Saturday, Sept. 13-14, at the Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse. The Flying Dutch are hosting a two-day tournament and will face two-time defending national champion Juniata University (Pa.) on Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
Individual tickets and family passes for the volleyball season opener can be ordered through the Hope Ticket Office at 100 East Eighth St.: online, in person or by calling (616) 395-7890.
Comments