by Alan Babbitt

Two five-set victories in singles play helped the Hope College women's tennis team close the Midwest Invitational with a 5-4 victory against No. 27-ranked North Central College (Ill.) on Saturday.

The Flying Dutch finished the two-day tournament with a 1-2 record after losing to No. 30 Gustavus Adolphus University (Minn.), 6-3, and No. 1 University of Chicago, 9-0.

Against North Central, Annika Weeber (Rockford, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian HS), pictured, clinched the victory with a 3-6, 7-6, 10-8 victory against Natalie Bassett at No. 3 singles.

At No. 6 singles, freshman Miyako Coffey (Cedar Rapids, Iowa / St. Xavier) defeated North Central's Sjana Henderson, 6-2, 3-6, 10-6.

Hope earned two more points in singles play and one in doubles.

At No. 1 singles, senior Sydney Jackson (Fort Wayne, Indiana / Carroll) downed Kaeli Smashed, 7-6, 6-2.

At No. 2 singles, freshman Sullivan Patel (Birmingham, Michigan / Wylie E. Groves) topped Hannah Hougland, 6-1, 6-1.

At  No. 1 doubles, Jackson and Patel defeated Hougland and Alaina Kanthaphixay, 8-3.

Against Gustavus Adolphus, Jackson and Patel won at No. 1 doubles, 8-7 (4), against Simona Potockova and Yuki Oda, 8-7 (4).  All three doubles matches went to tiebreakers.

At No. 4 singles, senior Saydee Johns (Holland, Michigan / Holland) earned a 6-1, 2-6, 10-4 victory against Sydney Douglas.

At No. 5 singles, freshman Alexi Lewis (Cedar, Michigan / Traverse City St. Francis) topped Haley Rosentreter. 6-1, 2-6, 10-4.

Hope's next match is Wednesday, April 6, at 4 p.m. against Olivet College at the Etheridge Tennis Complex.