by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College men's tennis team posted its 50th win against rival Calvin University on Thursday while setting up a first-place showodwn this weekend.

The Flying Dutchmen defeated Calvin, 8-1, in Grand Rapids to remain undefeated in MIAA play with a 5-0 league record.

Hope hosts reigning MIAA champion Kalamazoo College on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the Etheridge Tennis Complex.

Photo of Cameron Coates, left, and Jacob Burkett by Tom Renner

On Thursday, the Flying Dutchmen improved to 50-37 all-time against Calvin.

The Flying Dutchmen swept all six singles matches.

Hope started the match by winning two of the three doubles matches.

At No. 1 doubles, juniors Jacob Burkett (Clarkston, Michigan / Clarkston HS) and Cameron Coates (Stevensville, Michigan / Laurel Springs) topped Adam Zentner and Isaac Jeong, 8-5.

At No. 2 doubles, juniors Tyler Stafford (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) and junior Matt Henkel (Traverse City, Michigan / T.C. Central) lost to Calvin's Stuart Johnston and Jared Berghorst in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (7-4).

At No. 3 doubles, sophomore Justin Fay (Naperville, Illinois / St. Francis) and senior Tyler Koran (Salinas, California / Salinas) defeated Calvin's Harrison Sindelar and Jace DeShelter, 8-3.

In singles play, the Flying Dutchmen took all six flights in straight sets.

At No. 1 singles, Burkett recorded a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Sindelar.

At No. 2 singles, Coates earned a 6-4, 6-1 victory against Zentner.

At No. 3 singles, Stafford served up a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Johnston.

At No. 4 singles, Henkel posted a 6-0, 6-0 victory against Berghorst.

At No. 5 singles, freshman Austin Becksvoort (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) netted a 6-0, 6-3 victory against DeShelter.

At No. 6, singles, Koran recorded a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Jeong.