A pair of Hope College volleyball players have claimed spots on the 2015 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District™ Volleyball Teams: setter Lauren Hazekamp and libero Jayne Kessel.
The Academic All-District™ teams include the student-athletes eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. First-team Academic All-District™ honorees advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
Hazekamp is a senior from Fruitport, Michigan (Fruitport HS) who is majoring in exercise science. She plans to study physical therapy at graduate school after finishing her studies at Hope.
“I’ve experienced a lot of growth as a person here. I’ve been pushed,” Hazekamp said. “I know that I can handle a lot more than I thought I could coming into my time at Hope. I’ve been encouraged by professors and coaches who have helped develop me into the person I am, ready for my next step.”
Hazekamp is a three-time member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll.
On the court, Hazekamp helped the Flying Dutch win their first NCAA Division III national championship in volleyball in 2014 as a junior. This season, the Flying Dutch are ranked 10th in the nation heading into this weekend’s MIAA Tournament.
Hazekamp is a two-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American and All-MIAA performer.
Hazekamp is third all-time at Hope with 3,633 assists. She needs nine more to pass Stephanie Poll (2004-06) for second place.
Hazekamp has 1,061 career digs and needs two more to pass Sara DeWeerdt (2007-10) for 10th all-time.
Kessel is a senior from Byron Center, Michigan (Grand Rapids South Christian HS). She is finishing up a double major of chemistry and Spanish, with the goal of heading to dental school after graduating from Hope.
“Being a student at Hope has prepared me for the future, especially with the science courses I’ve taken that have prepared me for dental school,” Kessel said. “What sets Hope apart is what they’ve given me as far as relationships with students and professors and competing in athletics at a high level.”
Kessel is a two-time winner of the NCAA Division III Elite 89 award given to the student-athlete with the top grade point average at a NCAA championship event. Kessel has 531 career digs in 97 matches.
This is the fifth year of the expanded Academic All-America® program as CoSIDA recognizes four teams - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III participants, while the College Division Academic All-District™ Team combines NAIA, Canadian and two-year schools. Previously, CoSIDA recognized a University Division (Division I) and a College Division (all non-Division I); with the four teams, CoSIDA has doubled the number of scholar-athletes honored.
The Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the
NCAA Division III national governance structures, to assist CoSIDA with handling the
awards fulfillment aspects for the 2015-16 Division III Academic All-America® teams
program.