NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Hope is national champion for the first time after topping Emory in five sets on Monday in the NCAA Division III championship game.
The second-ranked Flying Dutch won 21-25, 25-21, 25-22, 24-26, 15-8 at Christopher Newport in Newport News, Virginia.
Hope (34-2) joined the 2006 and 1990 women's basketball teams as national title winners.The Flying Dutch also matched the 2009 volleyball team that went 34-4 for wins in a single season.
Senior outside hitter Jenna Grasmeyer recorded a match-high 22 kills against fifth-ranked Emory (39-4). Grasmeyer, Hope's all-time leader in kills and three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American, was named the championship's most outstanding player.
Senior outside hitter Amy VanderStoep totaled a career-high 19 kills and earned all-tournament honors.
Junior setter Lauren Hazekamp totaled a career-high 58 assists. Hazekamp, a two-time AVCA Second Team All-American, made the all-tournament team.
Senior Anna Lynch chipped in 16 kills.
Senior middle hitter Jillian Sommerville contributed seven kills, while senior Elyse Maley collected 19 digs.Â
Hope's senior class totaled a career record of 120-17 in the past four years.
