by Alan Babbitt
Setter Tracy Westra and middle hitter McKenna Otto delivered rally after rally for a Hope College volleyball team that ranked in the top 10 nationally all season.
Both have been recognized for their performances as American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Americans. Westra is a first-team selection, while Otto made the second team.
"Tracy and McKenna are special players who have made incredible contributions on the court and off," head coach Becky Schmidt said.
Westra and Otto helped the Flying Dutch win an Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season championship and reach the NCAA Division III regional finals before finishing with a 25-5 record.
A first-time AVCA All-American. Westra (Clarendon Hills, Illinois / Timothy Christian) is one of 14 first-team honorees.
The senior environmental engineering major and MIAA MVP registered career-highs in assists per set at 10.66, digs per set at 2.33, and kills per set at 1.26.
"Tracy is a talented setter who ran a very challenging offense this year," Schmidt said. "I am glad she received this honor because we did not make things easy for her. The diversity of our offense required her to manage hitters in many different situations and was something she did with poise."
Otto (Wheaton, Illinois / Wheaton North) is an AVCA Second Team All-American for the third consecutive season.
The biomedical/biomechanical engineering major averaged 3.21 kills, 2.14 digs, and 0.69 blocks per set this fall.
"McKenna is one of those rare middle hitters who possesses the ball control to play back row defense as well," Schmidt said. "She has been a leader on our team since the first day she stepped in the gym."
Additionally, sophomore libero Maggier Wehrmeyer (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa) received AVCA Honorable Mewntion All-America honors.
Wehrmeyer, Westra, and Otto also received AVCA All-Region honors along with senior outside hitter Ana Grunewald (Grand Rapids, Michigan / East Grand Rapids).
