The Hope College volleyball team will begin its quest for a second national championship in Wisconsin.
Coach Becky Schmidt’s Flying Dutch received an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament and will face Bethel, Minnesota, Thursday, Nov. 12 at 12:30 p.m. CT, in the first round at the Whitewater, Wisconsin regional.
Hope won six matches en route to claiming the 2014 national championship. The Flying Dutch defeated Emory, Georgia in a five-set championship game in Newport News, Virginia.
Hope graduated five seniors, including four starters, from that team, but still finished the regular season with a 24-6 overall record.
The Flying Dutch will compete in the national tournament for the 13th time in team history.
Hope and Bethel are meeting for the first time in NCAA Tournament action.
The winner of the Hope-Bethel match will face either Wisconsin-Eau Claire or Gustavus Adolphus, Minnesota in the second round.
The other first-round games feature Wisconsin-Whitewater against Northwestern Saint Paul, Minnesota and Wartburg, Iowa against College of St. Benedict, Minnesota.
“It is a regional that is completely up for grabs — by anybody,” Schmidt said.
The regional champion advances to the Nov. 19-21 NCAA Division III Championship hosted by Calvin College.