by Alan Babbitt

The Hope College men's tennis team made the most of a sunny afternoon at VandePoel-Heeringa Stadium Courts.

The second-seeded Flying Dutchmen earned a 5-0 win against third-seeded Trine University in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday.

Hope (8-12 overall) advanced to play top-seeded Kalamazoo College in the championship match on Friday, May 6, at 5 p.m.

Photo of Tyler Koran by Lynne Powe

The Flying Dutchmen opened the match against Trine by winning all three doubles matches, leaving them only needing to win two singles matches to earn the victory.

At No. 3 doubles, senior senior Tyler Koran (Salinas, California / Salinas HS) and sophomore Justin Fay (Naperville, Illinois / St. Francis) picked up Hope's first point with a8-1 victory against Jaxon Davis and Caleb Morris.

At No. 2 doubles, juniors Tyler Stafford (Grand Rapids, Michigan / Grand Rapids Christian) and Matt Henkel (Traverse City, Michigan / T.C. Central) defeated Cole Goodman and Ryan Mullet, 8-3.

At No. 1 doubles, juniors Jacob Burkett (Clarkston, Michigan / Clarkston HS) and and Cameron Coates (Stevensville, Michigan / Laurel Springs) recorded an 8-4 victory against Ryan Streit and Ryan Smith. 

Hope held a 3-0 lead against Trine during their April 12 meeting, but three of the singles matches went to a third-set tiebreaker during an 8-1 Flying Dutchmen victory.

In the rematch, Hope refused to allow another dramatic finish by winning the first two singles matches.

First, Koran defeated Adam Dills at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-0.

Then, Burkett closed the match by topping Goodman, 6-2, 6-1.