ORIGINS OF HOPE VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball has been an intercollegiate sport at Hope since 1972. Sandra Parker was the first head coach.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Hope captured its first national championship during the 2014 season after winning all six postseason matches, including a 3-2 win against Emory (Georgia) in the championship match on Nov. 24, 2014, at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. The national title was the third team NCAA title in school history, joining women's basketball teams who accomplished the feat in 1990 and 2006. The Flying Dutch, led by head coach Becky Schmidt, finished with a 34-2 record and set a school record for wins. The team was honored by fans at a DeVos Fieldhouse ceremony on January 31, 2015.

OTHER TEAM PERFORMANCES OF NOTE

In 2023, the Flying Dutch finished national runner-up after winning four consecutive five-set matches between the second round and the national semifinals. Hope, the MIAA regular-season champions, finished with a 32-3 record after losing to defending national champion Juniata College (Pa.). 

In 2024, the Orange and Blue advanced to the national semifinals for the second consecutive season before falling to eventual national champion Juniata in five sets in Salem, Virginia. The Flying Dutch, who repeated as MIAA champions, finished with a 29-3 record.

In 2022, Hope started a run of three consecutive Elite Eight appearances. The Orange and Blue lost to eventual national champion Juniata in four sets in the national quarterfinals.

In 2009, for the first time in school history, the Flying Dutch advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA championships. The Flying Dutch also hosted the NCAA Great Lakes Regional for the first time and finished their MIAA championship season with a school-record 34 wins.

Six of Hope's MIAA championship teams went undefeated in league play: 1987 (12-0), 1997 (12-0), 2005 (16-0), 2009 (16-0), 2021 fall (8-0) and 2023 (8-0).

The 2013 and 2014 Flying Dutch teams served up 26-0 records in three-set matches during their seasons.

In the spring of 2021, the Flying Dutch won the MIAA Tournament with three victories in a span of six days, including a four-set decision at Calvin University in the final. The season was from the traditional fall season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, Hope advanced to the national quarterfinals for the fourth time in program history earned the fourth NCAA regional crown in program history and lost to eventual national champion Juniata University (Pa.) in four sets. The Flying Dutch claimed the regional title by defeating three Top 10 opponents in three days at Calvin University, including the host Knights in a five-set finals.

PLAYERS AND PERFORMANCES OF NOTE

In 2024, junior outside hitter Addie VanderWeide excelled in her first season with the Flying Dutch and chosen as the AVCA Co-National Player of the Year, an AVCA All-American and MIAA Most Valuable Player. She repeated as an All-American during the 2025 season.

In 2023, setter Lauren Lee was selected as AVCA All-American as a freshman. She was chosen as the AVCA Region 7 Freshman of the Year.

In 2014, outside hitter Jenna Grasmeyer became the first Hope volleyball player to earn American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American First Team honors three times during her career. She departed as the Flying Dutch's all-time leader in kills and points. 

Setter Lauren Hazekamp matched Jenna Grasmeyer's All-America feat one season (2013-15). 

Five other Flying Dutch have claimed All-America honors: McKenna Otto (2019), Courtney Earles (2013), Jacie Fielder (2010), Andrea Helminiak (2009), and Becky Schmidt (1998).

Holly Vandenberg is one of four Hope players to achieve All-MIAA volleyball honors for four consecutive years (1987-90. An all-around athlete, she was All-MIAA twice in basketball and once in softball.

Since the NCAA moved to a 25-point game format in 2008, the Flying Dutch have reached 78 kills in a match twice: September 6, 2011, vs. Alma and October 13, 2012, vs. Elmhurst (Illinois). Jenna Grasmeyer tied the school record with 28 kills herself in the Elmhurst match. Two others have totaled 28 ills in a match: Jacie Fiedler vs. Washington-St. Louis on November 20, 1999, and Katie Rietberg vs. Albion on September 8, 2018.

Greer Bratschie twice recorded 63 assists in a match, a school record for a 25-point set game format: September 6, 2011, vs. Alma and October 13, 2012 vs. Elmhurst (Illinois).

COACHES OF NOTE

Current coach Becky Schmidt had an outstanding Hope playing career and is now excelling coaching the Flying Dutch. Voted the MIAA's most valuable player as a junior and senior, she became Hope's first Division III All-American in 1998.

In seven seasons as head coach (1997-2003), Maureen Dunn guided the Flying Dutch to four MIAA titles and three appearances in the NCAA Division III championships. She posted a 168-79 overall record and 77-15 mark against MIAA opponents.

FACILITY

The Flying Dutch's debut season at DeVos Fieldhouse was 2006. Hope hosted the NCAA Division III Volleyball Championships at DeVos Fieldhouse in 2012 and 2013. The Flying Dutch earned the right to play in a national quarterfinal on their home court in 2013, one season before their national title.

Hope has posted undefeated seasons at DeVos Fieldhouse twice: 2007 at 11-0 and 2010 at 12-0.

The 2009 and 2010 Flying Dutch led all NCAA Division III in home attendance. The 2009 Flying Dutch averaged 992 fans per match at DeVos Fieldhouse while the average for the 2010 team was 802. Hope's 2009 average home attendance was the largest in Division III since statistics were first compiled by the NCAA in 1997.