College Roundup: Hope spikers fall in D-3 Final 4

Sat, Nov 21, 2009    to del.icio.us

HOLLAND — An unstoppable middle hitter from a NCAA Division III power thwarted the Hope College volleyball team's bid to play for a NCAA Division III national championship.

Erin Albers recorded 25 kills, including 11 over the final two sets, to lead Washington University in St. Louis to a five-set win over Hope Friday in the national semifinals.

WashU advanced to Saturday's championship match, while the Flying Dutch finished with a program-best 34-4 record.

Sophomore outside hitter Jacie Fiedler's 28 kills led Hope.

Hope reached the semifinals with a victory over Tufts (Mass.) on Thursday, 25-17, 25-23, 29-31, 25-18, as Fiedler led Hope with 18 kills, including six during the first set.

Junior outside hitter Sara DeWeerdt added 14 kills for the Flying Dutch, while junior middle hitter Kara VandeGuchte had 10. Both are from Hamilton.

Helminiak contributed 47 assists, while senior defensive specialist Kristen Johnson made a team-high 13 digs.

Hope bounced back after failing to sweep Tufts (31-5). It the first time this season the Flying Dutch played a set to 30 points.

ICIEK A FINALIST FOR HARLON HILL

Grand Valley State University quarterback Brad Iciek is one of nine finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given to the top player in NCAA Division II.

Iciek and Wayne State University running back Joique Bell represent the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in the group.

National voting will conclude Nov. 29, and the top three finishers will be invited to the Division II championship weekend and the Dec. 11 presentation banquet.

Iciek, a senior from Grandville, is a finalist for the third straight year and becomes just the third student-athlete in the 24-year history of the award to do so. He finished fifth last year and seventh in 2007.

He is the third highest rated passer in Division II this season with a 174.1 rating. He has thrown for 2,369 yards and 26 touchdowns with only two interceptions.

Iciek and the Lakers host GLIAC rival Hillsdale at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale today in the second round of the Division II playoffs. The Chargers defeated the Lakers earlier this season, 27-24, on Oct. 10.