The Hope College women's tennis team started pursuit of back-to-back Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles on a winning note.

The Flying Dutch won their league opener at Calvin 7-2 on Wednesday and improved to 7-4 overall.

It was Hope's seventh victory in the past eight matches.

The Flying Dutch clinched their eighth consecutive victory over the Knights by winning five of six singles flights.

At No. 1 singles, junior Nancy Benda of Birmingham, Michigan (Seaholm HS) defeated Calvin's Ellie Benzel 6-1, 6-2.

At No. 2 singles, senior Anna Garcia of Battle Creek, Michigan (Lakeview HS) blanked Claire Spoelhof 6-0, 6-0.

At No. 4 singles, junior Kate Mader of Granger, Indiana (Penn HS) topped Micaela Seazzu 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.

At No. 5 singles, sophomore Natalie Rahrig of Fort Wayne, Indiana (Bishop Luers HS) outlasted Alyssa Bowman 3-6, 6-0, 12-10.

At No. 6 singles, freshman Taylor LaBarge of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville HS) downed Kari Kroeze 6-4, 6-2.

In doubles, Hope's No. 2 pair of Garcia and LaBarge defeated Seazzu and Jessica Bouma 8-2.

The No. 3 doubles team of Mader and sophomore Amanda Susnak of Lowell, Michigan (Lowell HS) recorded an 8-3 win against Calvin's Liz Turner and Lark Foote. 

Hope returns to action on Saturday, April 9 with a MIAA match at Saint Mary's. Start time is 1 p.m.