by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College men's tennis team served up an 8-1 victory against Bethel University (Minnesota) on Wednesday at the United States Tennis Association National Training Center in Orlando, Florida.

The Flying Dutchmen evened their record at 4-4 overall.

Three Hope players earned points in both singles and doubles play.

Senior Mark VanderStoep of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa HS) defeated Hunter Fernelius at No. 1 singles, 6-1, 6-4.

VanderStoep teamed with junior Danny Kroeze of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian) for an 8-5 victory at No. 1 doubles against Fernelius and Jason Reilly.

Senior Tim Roe of Bakersfield, California (Frontier) downed Erik Beckers at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1.

Senior Michael Kiley of Muskegon, Michigan (Mona Shores) topped Reilly for a 6-3, 6-3 decision at No. 3 singles.

Roe and Kiley paired up at No. 2 doubles for an 8-3 victory against Nick Knudsen and Joey Mueller.

At No. 3 doubles, sophomore David Bacon of Grand Rapids, Michigan (Forest Hills Northern) and sophomore Carter Smiley of Minnetonka, Minnesota (Minnetonka) teamed up for an 8-2 decision against Beckers and Peter Wachtler.

At No. 5 singles, senior Christian Rhoades of Holland, Michigan (Holland Christian) beat Mueller, 6-2, 6-4.

At No. 6 singles, senior Justin Folkert of Hamilton, Michigan (Hamilton) defeated Andrew Jenson, 6-0, 6-2.

Hope's next match are Thursday, March 21 against the Grinnell College (Iowa) College of Charleston (S.C.).