HOLLAND, Mich. - A pair three-set wins in the final two matches led the Hope women's tennis team to the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Tournament Championship and earned the Flying Dutch a berth in the NCAA Division III Championship on Friday at Hope’s VandePoel-Heeringa Stadium Courts.
Hope (18-4) came from behind to defeat Kalamazoo (11-11) 5-4 in the title match. It marked the third victory for the Flying Dutch against the Hornets this season. The MIAA Tournament title is the fifth in a row for Hope and seventh overall. Hope will learn its postseason assignment on Monday for its fifth consecutive NCAA championship appearance and 11th overall.
The No. 34 Flying Dutch won the final two matches of the day in three-set thrillers.
The decisive team point came at No. 4 singles where Hope’s Kate Mader outlasted Kalamazoo’s Siani Johnson for a 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 win. Just prior to Mader’s title-clinching victory, Hope’s Natalie Rahrig tied the score at 4-4 following a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles against Katie Clark of Kalamazoo.
Hope, the No. 1 seed, won four of six singles matches after trailing 2-1 following doubles play. At No. 2 singles, Hope’s Anna Garcia topped Sabrina Dass of Kalamazoo 6-0, 7-5. At No. 6 singles, Taylor LaBarge of Hope beat Kalamazoo’s Sonal Bahl 6-3, 6-0. The Flying Dutch's doubles point came from an 8-4 win from Rahrig and Catherine Wingrove at No. 3 doubles.
Kalamazoo, the No. 2 seed, jumped out to an early 2-1 lead following doubles action. The Hornets’ top team of Sarah Woods and Sabrina Dass won 9-7 while Maria Franco and Bahl won 8-4 on court two. In singles, Woods won 6-2, 6-3 at the top spot over Hope’s Natalie Benda while Franco won 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 on court three over Marie Holaway of Hope.
#34 Hope College 5, Kalamazoo College 4
May 06, 2016 at Holland, Mich. (VandePoel-Heeringa Stadium Courts)
Singles
1. Sarah Woods (KZOO) def. Nancy Benda (HOPE) 6-2, 6-3
2. Anna Garcia (HOPE) def. Sabrina Dass (KZOO) 6-0, 7-5
3. Maria Franco (KZOO) def. Marie Holaway (HOPE) 6-2, 4-6, 6-1
4. Kate Mader (HOPE) def. Siani Johnson (KZOO) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
5. Natalie Rahrig (HOPE) def. Katie Clark (KZOO) 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
6. Taylor LaBarge (HOPE) def. Sonal Bahl (KZOO) 6-3, 6-0
Order of finish: Singles (6,2,1,3,5,4)
Doubles
1. Sarah Woods/Sabrina Dass (KZOO) def. Nancy Benda/Marie Holaway (HOPE) 9-7
2. Maria Franco/Sonal Bahl (KZOO) def. Anna Garcia/Taylor LaBarge (HOPE) 8-4
3. Natalie Rahrig/Catherine Wingrove (HOPE) def. Alexandria Oswalt/Eloise Germic (KZOO) 8-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1)
