Hope College Women's Volleyball

Taylor Babec joined the Hope College volleyball coaching staff an assistant coach prior to the 2024 season. Babec was a four-year letterwinner at Illinois Wesleyan University as a middle hitter. Babec finished her career ranked 14th in program history with an average of 0.70 blocks per set. Babec graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in May 2024 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. A native of Joliet, Illinois, Babec appeared in all of 30 Illinois Wesleyan matches during the 2023 season and made 26 starts. Babec recorded 145 kills and finished second on the team team with 63 blocks. Babec also claimed College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors as a senior. Babec earned Academic All-Collegiate Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin honors three consecutive seasons (2023, 2022 and 2021). As a child, Babec was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. As part of her treatment to beat cancer, Taylor received 22 blood transfusions to help her body recover from chemotherapy. After three years of treatment, Taylor was declared cancer-free.

Becky Schmidt '99 has made her mark on Hope College volleyball as a student-athlete and as a head coach. In 21 seasons, Schmidt has guided the Flying Dutch to a 538-134 overall record (.801), a 245-34 mark against MIAA opponents (.878) and a 32-15 mark in NCAA Tournament matches (.681). Schmidt's collegiate coaching record, which includes three seasons (38-33) at the University of Redlands, Calif., is 576-167 (.775) that ranks her among the nation's elite. In 2014, Schmidt guided the Flying Dutch to a national championship with a 6-0 run during the NCAA Division III Tournament. Hope matched a school record for wins in a single season with a 34-2 record. in 2009, Schmidt coached the Flying Dutch to their first national semifinal appearance and a 34-4 overall record. In 2023, Schmidt led Hope to a national runner-up finish and was voted as the AVCA Region 7 Coach of the Year and the inaugural MIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year. In 2024, Schmidt guided the Flying Dutch to a second consecutive sweep of MIAA regular-season and tournament titles and chosen as the MIAA Volleyball Coach of the Year.     Fifteen times, Schmidt has guided the Flying Dutch to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Four times, Hope has won the NCAA regional final and advanced to the national quarterfinals. Schmidt has led Hope to seven outright MIAA regular-season championships (2024, 2023, 2021 fall, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2005) and two MIAA title shares (2014 and 2013). Five times, Schmidt guided led the Flying Dutch to MIAA Tournament titles: 2024, 2023, 2021 spring, 2016, and 2010. The 2021 spring title occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four times, Schmidt led the Flying Dutch to unbeaten records in MIAA play (8-0 in 2024 and 2023 and 16-0 in 2005 and 2009. The 2024 team won all 24 sets during eight MIAA matches. The 2009 team had a 34-4 mark, a school record for victories, and advanced to the national semifinals. The 2013 team reached the national quarterfinals and ended with a 32-3 record. Schmidt coached her 100th Hope victory on Sept. 6, 2008, when the Flying Dutch defeated Olivet. Her Hope record at that time was 100-52. She coached her 200th Hope victory on October 15, 2011, when the Flying Dutch defeated St. Benedict. Her Hope record at that time was 200-60. She won her 300th Hope game on Nov. 21, 2014, against Clarkson, N.Y., in the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Her record at the time was 300-73. She coached her 400th Hope victory on Sept. 8, 2019, against Kenyon, Ohio. Her Hope record at that time was 400-108. Schmidt coached her 500th Hope victory on Nov. 1, 2023, at Olivet. In November 2008, she was elected the NCAA Division III representative to the Board of Directors of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). Schmidt had an article published in the June-July, 2008 issue of "Coaching Volleyball", the publication of the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The article, "Cultivating Competition: Five Scrimmages to Kindle Your Athletes' Competitive Fire," flows from coach Schmidt's twin interests: volleyball and sports psychology. A 1999 Hope graduate, Schmidt played middle blocker and ranked among the NCAA leaders in several statistical categories. She was voted the most valuable player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) as both a junior and senior. As a senior, she became the first Hope volleyball player to receive NCAA Division III All-American honors. She was also awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. A kinesiology major, she received departmental recognitions for her academic work. Her senior year she was presented the John Schouten Award as the college's outstanding female student-athlete. After graduating from Hope she was a graduate assistant volleyball coach at Miami University of Ohio while completing her master's degree in Sport Behavior and Performance. Prior to returning to her alma mater, she was head coach at the University of Redlands, Calif., compiling a 38-33 record in three seasons at the NCAA Division III institution. Schmidt has also coached volleyball club teams in Michigan, Ohio, and California. In California, she has coached the Redlands Dragons 18s team and helped establish a volleyball development program for 12-year-olds. In 2002 she coached a USA Athlete's International volleyball team to a gold medal in the "Down Under Games" in Australia. Schmidt is a 1994 graduate of Holland High School. While at Hope she was involved in the Holland community, volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club and Habitat for Humanity. She has continued her involvement with Habitat for Humanity in California. She also served as an assistant women's lacrosse team coach at Redlands. Schmidt is married to David Fleece. The couple has a son. David has been the announcer at Hope volleyball matches for several years.   Head Coach Overall MIAA Season W L Win PCT. W L Win PCT. 2024 29 3 .906 8 0 1.000 2023 32 3 .914 8 0 1.000 2022 24 8 .750 7 1 .875 2021 25 5 .833 8 0 1.000 2020 9 1 .900 6 1 .857 2019 24 8 .750 7 1 .875 2018 25 8 .758 7 1 .875 2017 19 11 .633 12 4 .750 2016 25 6 .806 13 3 .812 2015 24 7 .774 14 2 .875 2014 34 2 .944 15 1 .938 2013 32 3 .914 15 1 .938 2012 29 5 .853 14 2 .875 2011 25 7 .781 14 2 .875 2010 27 5 .844 15 1 .938 2009 34 4 .895 16 0 1.000 2008 26 7 .788 15 1 .938 2007 24 9 .727 14 2 .875 2006 25 10 .714 13 3 .812 2005 27 8 .771 16 0 1.00 2004 19 14 .576 8 8 .500 Total 538 134 .801 245 34 .878