WHITEWATER, Wis. – The No. 34 Hope women's tennis rolled to a 5-0 victory over Northwestern (Minn.) in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament in Whitewater, Wis.

Making its fifth-straight tournament appearance, Hope (19-4) swept the doubles matches to jump out to a 3-0 advantage over Northwestern (23-7). Soon after the Flying Dutch won matches at No. 4 and No. 5 singles to claim the team match point and advance to the second round against host No. 21 Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

Hope swept all three doubles matches in quick succession, surrendering just five games total across the three match wins.

Natalie Rahrig’s pairing was last off of the doubles court but she was first off the singles court, scoring a 6-1, 6-0 victory on court four to give Hope a 4-0 lead. 

The Flying Dutch’s Taylor LaBarge clinched the team match point on court five with a 6-3, 6-1 decision to give Hope the 5-0 victory.

Hope and UW-Whitewater open play at 11 a.m. ET on Friday for the right to advance to Saturday’s third round match. 

#34 Hope College 5, Northwestern (Minn.) 0
May 12, 2016 at Whitewater, Wis. (Wangerin Courts) 

Doubles
1. Nancy Benda/Marie Holaway (HOPE) def. Jessica Henke/Karen Moe (UNW) 8-1
2. Natalie Rahrig/Catherine Wingrove (HOPE) def. Emily Knight/Tina Matetich (UNW) 8-3
3. Kate Mader/Amanda Susnak (HOPE) def. Rachel Bostrom/Nikki Edin (UNW) 8-1

Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2)

Singles
1. Nancy Benda (HOPE) vs. Karen Moe (UNW) 4-6, 1-2, unfinished
2. Marie Holaway (HOPE) vs. Jessica Henke (UNW) 6-1, 3-1, unfinished
3. Kate Mader (HOPE) vs. Tina Matetich (UNW) 6-1, 3-1, unfinished
4. Natalie Rahrig (HOPE) def. Brooke Lapinski (UNW) 6-1, 6-0
5. Taylor LaBarge (HOPE) def. Emily Knight (UNW) 6-3, 6-1
6. Catherine Wingrove (HOPE) vs. Rachel Bostrom (UNW) 6-2, 3-1, unfinished

Order of finish: Singles (4,5*)