by Eva Dean Folkert

The Hope College women's tennis team blanked rival Calvin University, 9-0, on Wednesday at the Heeringa-VandePoel Stadium Courts on an unseasonably hot April day. 

Head coach Bob Cawood called it a total team win, and when your team is victorious in every match without dropping a set, there is no better descriptor than that.

"Coming out strong in doubles like we did set the tone for the rest of the match," Cawood said. "And then in singles, we took care of business and did what we were supposed to do. It was just a total team win overall. Everybody played well."

The Flying Dutch improved their record to 5-2 overall with a 2-0 MIAA record. Calvin fell to 2-5 overall and has an 0-3 league record.

At No. 1 singles, junior Sydney Jackson of Fort Wayne, Indiana (Carroll) defeated Calvin's Alexis Bonner, 6-1, 6-0.

At No. 2 singles, senior Leah Newhof of Caledonia, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian) topped Calvin's Emily Schullenboom, 6-1, 6-2.

At No. 3 singles, senior Bailey Chorney of Waunakee, Wisconsin (Waunakee) posted a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Calvin's Grace Brown.

At No. 4 singles, junior Saydee Johns of Holland, Michigan (Holland HS) fought back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set to defeat Calvin's Cam Cyrus, 6-2, 6-4.

"That match there showed our fight in a rivalry to find a way to win," Cawood observed.

At No. 5 singles, freshman Annika Weeber of Rockford, Michigan (Grand Rapids Christian) downed Calvin's Sara Kroeze, 6-1, 6-0.

At No. 6 singles, sophomore Delanie Riebschleger of Rockford, Michigan (Rockford) recorded a 6-3, 6-0 victory against Calvin's Carrie Scofield.

In doubles play, the No. 1 team of Jackson and Newhof blanked Bonner and Emily Schullenboom, 8-0.

At No. 2 doubles, Chorney and Weeber downed Brown and Cyrus, 8-2.

At No. 3 doubles, Johns and sophomore Taylor Truman of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville) defeated Kroeze and Schofield, 8-1.

Hope's next match is Saturday, April 10 at the University of Chicago at 2 p.m CDT. No spectators are permitted.