Championship focus. Championship effort. Championship love.
The Hope College volleyball team is keeping the same approach that led the Flying Dutch to their first national championship last season, even though the 2015 season features a different-looking roster.
"We've talked about the process," said coach Becky Schmidt, who is entering her 12th season as head coach. "One of the things that we identified last year that was the driving part of our process was championship focus, championship effort and championship love every time we were together. Those three things are pretty critical to our success this year as well."
The nationally ranked Flying Dutch opens the season this weekend with three matches at the University of Chicago Tournament. Hope, No. 3 in the preseason American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll, plays Aurora, Illinois, on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Central, then two more matches on Saturday.
Five seniors graduated last year's team that defeated Emory, Georgia for the NCAA Division III championship, including three-time AVCA All-American Jenna Grasmeyer. The Flying Dutch tied the school record for wins with a 34-2 record.
The 2015 Hope roster has 17 players. There are five seniors, three juniors, five sophomores and four freshmen.
Two-time All-American setter Lauren Hazekamp is back for the Flying Dutch. The senior from Fruitport, Michigan (Fruitport HS), is a co-captain along with senior libero Jayne Kessel of Byron Center, Michigan (Grand Rapids South Christian HS), and junior outside hitter Sarah Feldpausch of White Cloud, Michigan (White Cloud HS).
Schmidt praised Hazekamp's ability and desire to get all of her teammates involved on and off the court.
Hazekamp ranks fourth in Hope history with 2,639 assists during her career. She also is fifth at 8.83 career assists per set.
Hazekamp is supported by fellow setters Jamie Rogalski, a senior from Munster, Indiana (Munster HS), and Sophia Hackett, a sophomore from Indianapolis, Indiana (Brebeuf Jesuit Prep).
Kessel is part of a Hope back row that is capable of playing an exceptional level of defense that is the best Schmidt has seen at Hope.
Also contributing to this valued team strength are three more liberos: senior Allie Mitchell of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Eastern HS), junior Alexis Thompson of Monroe, Michigan (St. Mary Catholic Central HS), and sophomore Mallory Luke of Saline, Michigan (Saline HS).
Mitchell led the Flying Dutch with 499 digs last season, an average of 4.09 per set.
Mitchell ranks in Hope history seventh with 1,144 career digs and ninth with 3.35 digs per set.
Junior middle hitter Courtney Van Houzen of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City HS), is Hope's top returning hitter. She was fifth on the team last season at 1.48 kills per set.
Other middle hitters expected to contribute are sophomore Paige Baker of Encinitas, California (La Costa Canyon HS) and freshmen Grace Ditzenberger of Centennial, Colorado (Chaparral HS), and Vanessa Reynhout of Freeport, Michigan (Freeport HS).
Feldpausch is one of six outside hitters for Hope. She is joined by senior Callie Kostrzewa of Traverse City, Michigan (Traverse City Christian HS), sophomores Leah Dunlap of Winfield, Illinois (Wheaton North HS) and Haley Muller of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian HS), and freshmen Emma DuMez of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Badger HS) and Katie Rietberg of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS). Muller is a transfer from Calvin.
Schmidt said she and her players are trying to play with the same type of focus as they did last season, so that they are learning together and getting better from every opportunity they have.
"We certainly have room to go in regard to that. There is a lot to learn," Schmidt said. "Love is something we've talked about in our program for a long time, that service agape love that Christ asks for us. We're trying to demonstrate that with our team.
"If we take that championship-level approach, we're going to be in good shape."
