Jenna Grasmeyer

The desired destination has been reached. The Hope volleyball team is playing in the national finals on its home court. 

The Flying Dutch beat host Elmhurst (Ill.) College 24-26, 25-20, 25-14, 25-15 on Saturday night to claim their second regional title in school history and advance to the NCAA Division III Championship at DeVos Fieldhouse on Nov. 21-23.

Second-ranked Hope (32-2 overall) will play Wisconsin-Stevens Point in Thursday's national quarterfinals at a time to be announced. Stevens Point (34-4) ousted 2012 national champion St. Thomas (Minn.) in four sets Saturday night.

"We're really excited. We cannot wait for it," said junior Jenna Grasmeyer, an outside hitter from Jenison (Hudsonville Unity Christian HS) who was named the Elmhurst Region's Most Valuable Player. "It's going to be really fun, really energetic. It's going to be electric."

Grasmeyer and her teammates are trying to become the first team to win a national title at home since Wisconsin-Whitewater in 2002.

Calvin also has punched a ticket back to DeVos after finishing as national runner-up last season. The five other quarterfinalists wil be determined on Sunday.

"That's what we had in mind through our season this season," senior middle hitter Mari Schoolmaster of Portage (Portage Central HS) of playing at DeVos. "We had little goals throughout the season … but in the back of our heads, we wanted to play in the NCAA tournament on our home court."

Grasmeyer's match-high 18 kills and Schoolmaster's 12 helped the Flying Dutch defeated fifth-ranked Elmhurst (37-5) for the second time this season. Hope edged Elmhurst in a five-setter during an October tournament at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Sophomore setter Lauren Hazekamp of Fruitport (Fruitport HS) topped Hope with a match-high 45 assists and a team-high 15 digs.

Junior outside hitter Anna Lynch of Lakewood (Lake Odessa HS) totaled eight kills for Hope. Senior middle hitter Courtney Earles of Kentwood (East Kentwood HS) and junior outside hitter Amy VanderStoep of Holland (West Ottawa HS) added seven kills apiece.

Schoolmaster and Hazekamp joined Grasmeyer on the seven-player all-tournament team.

The Flying Dutch improved defending Elmhurst's diverse attack as the match progressed, Hope coach Becky Schmidt said.

"I think the adjustments we made in sets 2, 3 and 4 were critical to the success we had," Schmidt said. "Credit to these players for being able to make the adjustments to the level we did. Our defense was fantastic."

Hope's last quarterfinal appearance came in 2009, when it defeated Tufts, Mass., in four sets. The Flying Dutch lost to eventual national champion Washington University in St. Louis in a five-set semifinal.