by Alan Babbitt
The Hope College volleyball team is picked to be an MIAA title contender this spring.
The nationally-ranked Flying Dutch finished second in the league's preseason coaches poll with 43 points and one first-place vote.
Coaches could not vote for their own teams. Calvin University is the unanimous preseason favorite. Saint Mary's College (Indiana) has opted out of play this spring due to COVID-19 concerns.
Under the direction of head coach Becky Schmidt, Hope is ranked 20th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll.
The Flying Dutch return two All-MIAA First Team honorees from the 2019 season: junior middle hitter McKenna Otto (Wheaton, Illinois/Wheaton North HS) and junior outside hitter Ana Grunewald (Grand Rapids, Michigan/East Grand Rapids). Otto was an AVCA Second Team All-American in 2019 as a sophomore. Grunewald (gray jersey) is pictured celebrating a point during the 2019 season.
Setter Tracy Westra (Clarendon Hills, Illinois/Timothy Christian) returns as well. Westra was All-MIAA Second Team in 2019.
Hope's first match this spring is Friday, March 19 vs. Alma College at DeVos Fieldhouse.
