Hope College volleyball player Jayne Kessel has advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA's Elite 89 contest thanks to the support of Hope fans.

The senior libero from Byron Center, Michigan (South Christian HS), finished seventh in the first round of voting that ended Thursday. The top 30 qualified for the next round. Kessel received the second-most votes among Division III student-athletes.

Semifinal voting will run from Monday, July 20 at 10 a.m. until Tuesday, July 21 at 8 p.m. Fans can vote on any device once per day at http://on.ncaa.com/Elite89Vote.

The top 10 votegetters will advance to the final round of voting that will be held from Wednesday, July 22 at 10 a.m. until Thursday, July 23 at 8 p.m.

The winner will be announced on Friday, July 24.

The Elite 89 award recognizes the true essence of the NCAA student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 89 award is presented to the student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships.

Kessel is a two-time recipient of the Elite 89 award, earning it in 2014 and 2013. She is majoring in chemistry and Spanish with a pre-dental focus. She wants to become an orthodontist.

Kessel helped the Flying Dutch become a Division III national champion in 2014 by playing in all 36 matches last season and recorded 172 digs. 

Click here to read more about the NCAA's Elite 89 program.