The 2021-22 Hope College Women's Tennis Team
Women's Tennis at a Glance
- Roster Size: 9
- Head Coach: Austin Hunt, first season
- Captain: Sydney Jackson, senior
- 2021 Season Recap: The Flying Dutch went 7-0 in MIAA conference play, and 12-3 overall, with four non-conference matches. The women won the MIAA tournament, and finished their season in the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament.
- 2021 Postseason Honors: Senior Sydney Jackson became the Flying Dutch's 15th MIAA MVP and headlined the All-MIAA first team along with Leah Newhof. Fellow senior teammate Saydee Johns was selected to the All-MIAA Second Team along with Bailey Chorney. Returning sophomore Annika Weeber claimed Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete honors along with Bailey Chorney, Brigid DeVries, Leah Newhof, and Mackenzie Rhode, by recording a 3.5 grade point average or higher. The Flying Dutch were awarded the ITA All-Academic Team Award for have a team grade point average of 3.2 or above.
2022 Roster
The Flying Dutch feature a roster of nine, with two seniors, three juniors, one sophomores and three freshmen.
"The phrase that comes to mind for both of the teams' schedules is, "They are NO JOKE!" Both teams are going to be playing against great competition whether it be Cornerstone University, University of Chicago, Case Western Reserve University, Kalamazoo College, etc. Plenty of talented teams on our schedule." — Head coach Austin Hunt
Key Returners
Senior Sydney Jackson pictured, tops the Flying Dutch lineup this season as she returns to the No. 1 singles spot, and remains in the No. 1 doubles pairing with new partner Sullivan Patel.
Senior Saydee Johns stays as Hope’s No. 4 singles lineup spot. She joins the doubles lineup this season at the No. 2 doubles spot with partner junior Taylor Truman.
"This is a young and talented women's team this year, with these two seniors leading the way." - head coach Austin Hunt
Newcomers To Watch
- Freshman Sullivan Patel joins senior Sydney Jackson in the No. 1 doubles spot, as well as slides into the No. 2 singles slot in the lineup.
- Freshman Alexi Lewis will see time during matchups this season at the No. 5 singles slot.
- Freshman Miyako Coffey is set for the No. 6 singles spot for Hope College women's tennis.
"All three of these freshmen will be in the lineup in some form and will greatly contribute to our team." - head coach Austin Hunt
Coach's Outlook
"Ever since I was given the amazing privilege of being the Head Tennis Coach at Hope, every day has been extremely exciting! For 8 years, I dreamt of coaching at Hope and the fact that it's happening is a little too real for me! For the teams, I'm continually excited for them to prove to themselves that they really are leaders and that they all can come together and achieve some pretty amazing things! I try to stress to them as much as I possibly can that they have to choose to be the best versions of themselves on a daily basis and that if they can all do that consistently . . . these teams are going to do huge things! I'm very excited to simply see their consistent hard work pay off for them as the season goes on." — Head coach Austin Hunt
2022 Schedule
The Flying Dutch opened the 2022 season on Friday, February 4 defeating NCAA Division II Davenport University, 6-3. Hope is scheduled to play ten more non-league matches before the MIAA opener on Saturday, March 26 at Albion College. The Flying Dutch will have seven regular season matches before the MIAA tournament on Thursday and Saturday, May 5 and 7.
Coaching Staff
Austin Hunt was introduced as Hope College men's and women's tennis coach on July 27, 2021. He is the 13th men’s head coach for the Flying Dutchmen and the 15th women’s coach for the Flying Dutch.A native of Odessa, Texas, Hunt comes to Hope after coaching one season at GVSU. He helped the Lakers finish runner-up in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s regular-season standings and a tie for second place in the GLIAC women’s standings.
Austin Hunt holds a master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Michigan (2017) and a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Cornerstone University (2016). At Cornerstone, Hunt concluded his tennis career ranked fifth all-time with 94 career combined singles and doubles wins. His 46 singles wins while playing in the top half of the lineup are the fourth-most in team history as are his 48 doubles wins.
By the Numbers
- 27 — MIAA regular-season championships for the Flying Dutch, including five in a row (2015-19).
- 44 — MIAA seasons all-time for the Flying Dutch tennis team since the league unified in 1978.
- 101 — Years since women's tennis was the first Hope sport to be played in a coed format when, in 1921, Hope men and women participated in a six-team tournament in Kalamazoo.
- 205 — Combined singles and doubles wins earned by All-Americans Amanda Bandrowski and Claire Hallock during their Hope careers.
Home Court Advantage
Hope College's Etheridge Tennis Complex consists of the VandePoel-Heeringa Stadium, with 12 courts for outdoor play and the DeWitt Tennis Center, with six courts for indoor play. In 2013, the stadium courts won the Outdoor Tennis Court of the Year award, chosen by the American Sports Builders Association. In 2010, the Professional Tennis Registry rated the DeWitt Tennis Center the National Public Facility of the Year.
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Credits:
Tom Renner, Alan Babbitt