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Lauren Lee delivers a set.
Lynne Powe
Pictured, from left, Lauren Lee and Alison DeWeerd
0
Wis.-Stevens Point UWSP 20-12,5-2 WIAC
3
Winner Hope Hope 27-2,8-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Wis.-Stevens Point UWSP
20-12,5-2 WIAC
0
Final
3
Hope Hope
27-2,8-0 Michigan Intercol. Ath. Assn.
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Wis.-Stevens Point UWSP 15 15 18 (0)
Hope Hope 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball | | Alan Babbitt

No. 2 Volleyball Overwhelms Stevens Point, Claims Fifth Consecutive Regional Final Appearance

Up 2-0 again in the NCAA Division III regional semifinals against the same dangerous opponent, the Hope College volleyball team steered clear of any five-set drama this time.

The second-ranked Flying Dutch closed out the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in three sets on Friday at DeVos Fieldhouse and cruised into the regional final for the fifth consecutive season.

Hope (27-2) did not need to fend off a Stevens Point comeback like a year ago when the Pointers forced a fifth set after dropping the first two sets before falling to the Flying Dutch at DeVos Fieldhouse. It was the first of four consecutive five-set matches Hope won to reach the national championship match.

In the rematch, the Flying Dutch won 25-15, 25-15, 25-18, and advanced to face 12th-ranked Millikin University in the regional finals on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m. Millikin (31-5) topped the University of Dubuque (Iowa) in three sets in Friday's first semifinal.

Head coach Becky Schmidt joked about not remembering the details of the 2023 thriller between the two teams. Those memories being clearer would not have changed her approach, though.

"We talked to the team about staying in the moment and continuing to play each point for its own sake," said Schmidt, whose team is on an 18-match winning streak. "I think that's one of the things I've been so impressed with this team this season. They're consistently competitive at a level that is really rare and difficult to find."

Hope overcame a 12-8 deficit during the third set, scoring nine of the next 11 points for a 17-14 lead. The Pointers (20-12) never pulled back closer than two points.
 
The Flying Dutch overwhelmed Stevens Point with a .350 hitting percentage, Hope's 11th over .300 this season.

Senior Addie VanderWeide (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian HS) recorded a match-high 19 kills for the Flying Dutch. The outside hitter hit .410 in 39 attempts.

Four more attackers collected at least six kills.

Senior Alison DeWeerd (Kentwood, Michigan / South Christian) finished with eight kills and a .500 attack percentage.

Senior Annie Lockett (Mason, Ohio / William Mason) and sophomore middle hitter Kamryn Burbridge (Grand Haven, Michigan / Grand Haven) chipped in seven kills apiece. Junior Brooke Fox (Saunemin, Illinois / Pontiac Township) had six kills

DeWeerd praised junior setter Lauren Lee (Plymouth, Michigan / Skyline) with keeping Stevens Point off balance. Lee collected 38 of Hope's 47 assists.

"Lauren was doing a great job seeing the ball tonight, out of the peripheral seeing the block and seeing what they were guessing. She's so hard to read," DeWeerd said. "The name of the game was hit corners. We've got to hit high and corners because they've got a great block and a great defense back there."

Stevens Point hit .143. Ashley Kopp and Grace Michalski led the Pointers with eight kills apiece.
 
Gallery: (11-22-2024) 2024 NCAA Volleyball Regional Semifinal


 
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