Grace’s volleyball program is all smiles heading into the NCCAA Volleyball Tournament this weekend. From left are head coach Katie Van Hofwegen, Alexa Hill and Kari Feddema. (Photo provided by the Grace College Sports Information Department)

WINONA LAKE – Grace volleyball head coach Katie Van Hofwegen gets to check off one major item off her personal coaching bucket list. Her Lady Lancer team has qualified for the 2017 NCCAA National Championships, her first major national tournament as a head coach.

The Lady Lancers will be making their fourth trip to NCCAA Nationals in seven years, including two national semifinal appearances in 2011 and 2014. For Van Hofwegen, who took over at Grace in 2015, she’s not only happy for herself, but more so for her senior class, which returns to the national scene for the second time.

“We’re very excited to be able to play,” said Van Hofwegen. “Me personally, I’ve been able to grow as a coach, but I’m more excited for the team. They have continued to battle and have refused to give up. I see it in the eyes of this senior class. They went as freshmen and have the chance to get one more run at it.”

The 10-team tournament field is divided into two pools. Grace, the No. 8 seed, is in a pool with No. 1 Biola, No. 4 Emmanuel, No. 5 McMurry and No. 9 Bluefield. The Lady Lancers will play two pool games on Nov. 30 and its final two on Dec. 1. The top two finishers from each pool will advance to the semifinals and championship matches to be held on Dec. 2.

The tournament is hosted by Warner University at the Kissimmee Civic Center in Kissimmee, Fla.

Grace had a wild ride to get the opportunity to be chosen as an at-large selection for the NCCAAs. Starting its season 5-3, including a win over No. 22 Lourdes, Grace was well on its way into the competitive Crossroads League season. Going 5-2 to start the CL slate, the Lancers eventually came back to earth and needed a pick-me-up. That win likely came against No. 25 Marian, a 3-0 sweep at home on Oct. 18 that helped push Grace to a 4-1 run the rest of the CL season to finish 12-6 overall.

Grace knocked out Huntington, 3-1, in the opening round of the Crossroads tourney, but fell, 3-0, at Indiana Wesleyan to leave the Lancers 21-15 overall and needing a phone call from the national tourney.

That call came, and Van Hofwegen and her crew are more than ready to head to the shadows of the giant mouse ears and take some swings.

“Our team has been pretty unified, and it will be a great experience,” Van Hofwegen said. “This has been a great group to work with in team chemistry, and with their talent and strength. I’m excited to finish the season on a positive note. This is a great testament to the season we have had, and seeing these upperclassmen end the year in the national tournament.”

All games in the NCCAA tournament will be streamed live. Visit the official tournament page for streaming details.

Grace’s Kelsee Zuidema (facing) and Alexa Hill celebrate a point during their upset of Marian University during the regular season. (File photo by James Costello)