by Mackenzie McMahon

The men's tennis team collected a dominating win over Albion College on Saturday, 9-0, as they began their MIAA league play on the road. 

Junior Jacob Burkett (Clarkston, Michigan / Clarkston HS) and Cameron Coates (Stevensville, Michigan) took down their Brits opponent 8-5 in the No. 1 doubles match. At No. 2 doubles junior Tyler Stafford (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian), pictured right, and Matt Henkel (Traverse City, Michigan / Traverse City Central) took down their competition 8-3 for a second doubles win for Hope before Austin Becksvoort (Holland / Holland Christian) and Tyler Koran assisted in the doubles sweep with an 8-4 No. 3 doubles win. 

In the six singles matches, the Flying Dutchmen took every match from Albion. Burkett at No. 1 singles started things off and grabbed a 6-1 / 6-0 win, while the junior Laurel Springs product, Coates, stood tall in the No. 2 singles match with a 6-1 / 6-1 win. 

Stafford was in the No. 3 singles slot and earned a 6-1 / 6-1 win for the orange and blue. Koran, a senior from Salinas, California (Salinas) also snagged a win for Hope as he collected his 6-4 / 6-2 win over Albion. 

Becksvoort and Henkel each took an individual win as well, with Henkel securing a win in the No. 6 singles slot, and Becksvoort took home a 7-6 and 6-0 win to finish the day. 

The Flying Dutchmen moved to 2-10 this season, and now 1-0 in conference play. The Hope College men's tennis team looks to their next match on Wednesday, April 6 as they host Olivet at 4:00 p.m.