The Hope College men's tennis team served up a successful start to its spring break trip with a 5-4 victory against Bethel University (Minn.) on Tuesday in Florida. 

The Flying Dutchmen clinched the non-league match with wins in three singles flights after winning two of three doubles matches.

Senior Justin Fay (Naperville, Illinois / St. Francis HS) earned the match-deciding win at No. 1 singles for Hope to take the win. Fay took the first set 6-4, but dropped the second second set before gaining the 1-0 (super tiebreaker) win in the third set for Hope's fifth and final point over Bethel. 

Freshman Paul Schneider (Fishers, Indiana / Hamilton Southeastern) and sophomore Austin Becksvoort (Holland, Michigan / Holland Christian) snatched wins from their opponents at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-2, and No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-3, respectively. 

Earlier in the match, the Flying Dutchmen took home two of three doubles match wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles. 

Becksvoort and Fay teamed up for the 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles, while freshman Cooper Nugent  (Rochester Hills, Michigan / Rochester Adams) and Schneider defeated their Bethel opponent 8-5 at No. 3 doubles. 

Hope's next match is on Wednesday, March 13, at 3:30 p.m. vs. Dallas Baptist University.