by Alan Babbitt
MATCHUP
Hope (12-2) vs. Linfield, Ore. (12-2), NCAA Division III Tournament second round
WHERE
Rome, Georgia, hosted by Berry College
WHEN
10 a.m., Friday, May 14.
SERIES HISTORY
This is the first match between Hope and Linfield since the Flying Dutch won, 6-3, in Glendale, Arizona, on March 25, 1999. Hope leads the all-time series, 1-0.
NEWS AND NOTES
Linfield qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time overall and the second time in a row by winning the Northwest Conference Tournament, while Hope advanced by winning the MIAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive time.
The Hope-Linfield winner advances to face either Moravian College (Pa.) or defending national champion Wesleyan (Connecticut) in a third-round match on Saturday, May 15 at 10 a.m.
Hope is 59-20 combined in singles play this season for a .747 winning percentage. Five members of the Flying Dutch have at least seven singles victories.
Linfield is 61-15 in singles play for an 803 winning percentage. All seven of Linfield's singles players have at least seven victories.
In doubles, Hope is 34-8 combined this season for a .810 winning percentage. The No. 1 doubles team of Sydney Jackson and Leah Newhof and the No. 3 doubles team of Saydee Johns and Taylor Truman share the team lead with 10-1 records.
Linfield's doubles record this season is 37-5. Tessa Kern and Lexie Matsunaga are 11-1 at first doubles. Haley Fujimori and Taryn Fujimori are 10-1 at second doubles. Maggie Fiocchi and Allena Wong are unbeaten at 8-0 at third doubles.
Sydney Jackson leads the Flying Dutch with a 12-1 singles record, all while playing No. 1 singles for the first time this season. The junior is 41-9 in singles play for her career. This spring, Jackson was named MIAA MVP for the first time in her career. It is the fourth consecutive time a member of the Flying Dutch has claimed MVP honors.
As a doubles player, Sydney Jackson is 13-1 this season and 42-11 for her career. All of Jackson's doubles matches have been at the No. 1 flight. She has paired with Leah Newhof for 11 matches (10-1) and freshman Annika Weeber for three (3-0).
Leah Newhof is 10-1 in singles play this season — all at No. 2 singles — and 10-1 in doubles play — all at No. 1 doubles. The senior joined Sydney Jackson as an All-MIAA First Team honoree.
Senior Bailey Chorney (No. 3 singles/No. 2 doubles) and junior Saydee Johns (No. 4 singles/No. 3 doubles) both made the All-MIAA Second Team this season. Chorney also was named the recipient of the MIAA's Karen Caine Scholar-Athlete Award; she is a business and Spanish double major.
