Meredith Hollar of Grace College is the 2016 Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award Recipient for DI Women’s Soccer, presented by the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA).
The purpose of the Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award is to recognize NCCAA student-athletes who epitomize the Christian character qualities of: LOVE (demonstrating a caring and consistent love for others, I Corinthians 13); INTEGRITY (living out ethical principles in a clear consistent manner, Job 27:5); FAITH (acknowledging a life of faith and sharing that faith with others, Hebrews 11); and EXCELLENCE (striving to do all things at the highest standard, Philippians 4:8).
This award is sponsored by Gary Beck, manager of the Gary Beck Foundation and a former NCCAA All-American student-athlete from Greenville College, Ill. The award is presented annually at the National Women’s Soccer Championships.
Meredith will graduate from Grace College as one of the most prolific offensive talents in program history. The senior forward from Warsaw, Ind., leads the Lady Lancers this year with eight goals, including four game-winners. She is fifth in team history for career goals and sixth in career points. Hollar posted eight goals and five assists as a sophomore, including a goal in the NCCAA championship game against Lee. In her junior season, she helped lead Grace to the program’s first trip to the NAIA National Championships.
Hollar has earned NAIA and NCCAA All-American accolades throughout her career and was the Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. She is a standout student, boasting a 3.99 GPA as an elementary education major. She is a member of Alpha Chi and will repeat as an NCCAA/NAIA Scholar-Athlete this year.
She has demonstrated admirable resolve to overcome an injury-filled career. She has posted her impressive statistics despite undergoing three knee surgeries in her four years. Before her senior season, she had another orthopedic knee surgery but recovered in time to lead the Lady Lancers’ attack in 2016. Grace has played the second-toughest schedule in the NAIA this fall, highlighted by a scoreless draw with No. 1 Spring Arbor who is 18-0-1.
In the community, Hollar serves at her local church and with the Council for Exceptional Children. She was a student worker at the Center for Lakes and Streams and currently is a substitute teacher in the Warsaw public school system.
Head coach Michael Voss commented that Hollar is a true leader by example both on and off the pitch. “Meredith leads by example through her work ethic, spiritual discernment, and love for her teammates. She has unquestionably high character and faith in Christ,” Voss said. “She is quality in competition and in her love for Jesus, and she spurs others on to do the same.” — from thenccaa.org