by Alan Babbitt

Freshman Sullivan Patel played a part in four match victories for the Hope College women's tennis team on Monday during a split of matches at the USTA National Training Center in Orlando, Florida.

The Flying Dutch bounced back from a 5-4 loss to Grinnell College (Iowa) in the morning to sweep Oglethorpe University (Ga.), 9-0, during the evening.

Patel (Birmingham, Michigan / Wylie E Groves HS) won singles and doubles matches against both opponents.

Against Oglethorpe, Patel and senior Sydney Jackson (Fort Wayne, Indiana / Carroll) teamed for an 8-0 victory at No. 1 flight.

The Flying Dutch also received doubles wins from senior Saydee Johns (Holland, Michigan / Holland) and junior Taylor Truman (Hudsonville, Michigan / Hudsonville) of 8-7 (5) at the No. 2 flights, and sophomore Annika Weeber (Rockford, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) and junior Delanie Riebschlager (Rockford, Michigan / Rockford) of 8-2 at the No. 3 flight.

In singles play, Jackson took the top flight, 6-4, 6-2, while Patel won at No. 2, 6-2, 6-1.

Hope also picked up singles wins of 6-1, 7-5 from freshman Miyako Coffey (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / St. Xavier) at No. 3, 6-0, 6-1 from Riebschlager at No. 4, 6-1, 6-1 from Truman at No. 5, and 6-2, 6-1 from junior Sophia Stamatopoulos (Wheaton, Illinois / Wheaton-Warrenville South) at No. 6.

Against Grinnell, Patel and Jackson won at No. 1 doubles, 8-5.

In singles play, Patel won at No. 2 singles, 6-3, 6-3, over No. 43-ranked Irene Agusti.

Weeber claimed a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 3 singles.

Freshman Alexi Lewis (Cedar, Michigan / Traverse City St. Francis) won a marathon at No. 5 singles, 7-6 (10), 6-7 (9), and 1-0 (10-8).

Hope (5-5) concludes its matches in Florida on Tuesday, March 22, with matches against Salisbury University  (Md.) at 8 a.m. and Wisconsin-Eau Claire at 6:30 p.m.