Kenedy Schoonveld Three-Peats as MIAA Women's Basketball MVP; Two Others Honored

Kenedy Schoonveld's legacy with the Hope College women's basketball team will include an unprecedented feat.

The fifth-year senior is the first in the Flying Dutch's storied history to be chosen as Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player three times by the league's coaches.'

Schoonveld headlines the 2022 All-MIAA Teams that feature teammates Olivia Voskuil (first team) and Sydney Muller (second team). Voskuil also was voted as the MIAA's Defensive Player of the Year.

Hope's All-Time MVPs | MIAA Release

"I thought we had three we could put up for MVP this year: Olivia, Syd and Kenedy. I pushed all of them in our team on the phone call," head coach Brian Morehouse said. "They all do such different things. It's really difficult to pick an MVP off our team.

"Kenedy is very deserving. She's a tremendous wing defender and a tremendous offensive player. I'm thrilled. I would have been able to say the same thing if it was Vosk or Syd."

As MVP, Schoonveld (Zeeland, Michigan / Holland Christian) surpassed two-time honorees from Hope: Maura McAfee (2014 and 2016) and Amanda Kerkstra (2001 and 2003).

Schoonveld joins two other MIAA players with at least three league MVP honors: Calvin University's Carissa Verkaik (2010-13) and Trine University's Brandi Dawson (2017-19).

This season, Schoonveld finished in the top 5 among MIAA women's basketball players in field-goal percentage (.488) and in 3-point field-goal percentage (.449).

Schoonveld averaged a team-leading 10.0 points, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game in MIAA play. She was selected MIAA Women's Basketball Athlete of the Week three times this season.

The All-MIAA First Team selection is the fifth of Schoonveld's career, also a first.

"Her biggest improvement is the mental side of the game," Morehouse said. "She's also spent a lot of time with (athletic trainer) Tim Koberna really honing her body, making sure she can play really hard for long periods of time."

Voskuil (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian HS) is the first member of the Flying Dutch to be selected as MIAA Defensive Player of the Year four times. Liz Ellis won the award three consecutive times from 2011 to 2013.

Voskuil closed the regular season as the MIAA's leader in steals with a total of 39. She finished in the top five for field-goal percentage (.453) and blocks (33).

The All-MIAA First Team selection is the third of Voskuil's career. She also was a second-team honoree in 2018-19.

"There is tremendous respect in the league recognizing her greatness on the defensive end," Morehouse said. "I think it's pretty safe to say I'll never coach another defensive player like her. There will be players who do their best to emulate her and try to pick up things she did. But she's just a really unique player who has incredible instincts to go along with crazy reach and athleticism. It's a really unique combination."

Muller averaged 7.8 points, 4.1 reboounds, and 2.1 steals during 16 league games.

Hope finished as MIAA co-champions with a 15-1 league record.

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