Captain Nancy Benda looks to add on during the 2017 season to one of the best individual careers in the history of Hope College women's tennis.
The senior from Birmingham, Michigan (Seaholm HS) already ranks among the career leaders in singles and doubles victories with play this spring to complete.
She is pursuing a fourth trip to the NCAA Division III Championship and a third Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season championship.
Benda and the 34th-ranked Flying Dutch open their spring schedule on Saturday, Feb. 4 at No. 10 Chicago.
A two-time captain, Benda leads a group of nine Flying Dutch players along with interim head coach Nate Price.
Benda is joined by fellow senior Christin Drozd of Allegan, Michigan (Allegan), junior Natalie Rahrig of Fort Wayne, Indiana (Bishop Luers) and sophomore twin sisters Erin LaBarge and Taylor LaBarge of Hudsonville, Michigan (Hudsonville). Rahrig went 18-5 in singles play, second only on the Flying Dutch to Anna Garcia's 21 wins.
Hope welcomes four freshmen to the roster: Amanda Bandrowski of Traverse City, Michigan (St. Francis), Quincey Glupker of Grandville, Michigan (Grandville), Claire Hallock of Lakeland, Florida (Harrison Center), and Liz Pniewski of Lowell, Michigan (Grand Rapids Catholic Central).
The Flying Dutch are coming off a 19-5 season in 2016 in which they reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament and claimed both MIAA regular-season and tournament titles for the second consecutive season.
Benda played No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles for Hope. She went 17-7 in singles play and 20-7 in doubles with partner Marie Holaway en route to All-MIAA honors.
Benda enters the spring with a career singles record of 54-28 and a career doubles mark of 72-19.
Benda ranks sixth all-time in doubles wins and needs seven more to pass former teammate Carli Capestany for the school records.
Benda is tied for 13th in singles wins with Kathy Land (1988-90) and Cathy Walsh (1982-85).
Price returns to lead the Flying Dutch as interim coach. He will be assisted by Jay VanderLaan.
Price guided Hope to a 48-24 record and one MIAA title between 2010-12.
Click below to watch a video interview with Coach Price.
