John Pelton Bows in First Round at Nationals (5/16/08)
Hope's NCAA Men's Tennis History
Hope junior John Pelton lost his first round match in the singles tournament of the NCAA Division III championships on Friday in Lewiston, Me. He was defeated in three sets by Spencer Feldman of Trinity, Conn., 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Pelton was the first Hope men's tennis player invited to the national tournament in 26 years. He ends with a 22-4 season record.

John Pelton Receives NCAA Tennis Bid (5/7/08)
Junior John Pelton is one of 32 players nationwide invited to compete in the singles tournament of the NCAA Division III championships to be held May 16-18 at Bates College in Lewiston, Me.

The selection of players for the tournament is based on won-lost record, strength of schedule and eligibility and availability of student athletes.

Pelton is a graduate of Midland High School. He transferred to Hope after playing at Division I Western Michigan University. His family currently resides in Rock Hill, S.C. He posted a 22-3 dual match record at #1 singles. He lost to only one Division III opponent.

Pelton was named the most valuable player in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). He went undefeated in conference dual matches and at the conference tournament becoming the first non-Kalamazoo College player to go through league play undefeated at first flight singles. Kalamazoo is a perennial tennis power with an unprecedented 70 consecutive league titles. Hope is the only team to interrupt the streak, forcing co-championships in 1962 and 2003.

Pelton's 22 wins this season was a Hope record for victories in a season. The previous mark was 21 by Doug Barrow in 1969. Back then Division III did not exist so Barrow competed in the NCAA College Division tournament where he went unseeded, upset the number one seed in the semi-finals and lost in the finals, but received a standing ovation from the crowd. He also advanced to the University Division tournament the following week, but lost in the first round. He ended with a 21-8 record.

It has been 26 years since a Hope player was invited to the singles championship. In 1982, Tom DeWeert was defeated in the first round.

The Flying Dutchmen, coached by Steve Gorno, posted a 13-11 dual match record and finished fourth in the MIAA standings.

Flying Dutchmen Finish Fourth in MIAA (4/26/08)
The Flying Dutchmen ended fourth in the MIAA tournament and seasonal standings after bowing to Albion 5-4 in the consolation finals of the conference tournament. Hope was 1-2 in tournament matches. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen ended the season with a 13-11 overall dual match record.
Albion 5, Hope 4
SINGLES:1. John Pelton (H) d. Brandon Still 6-1, 6-0; 2. John Gardner (H) d. Andrew Lulek 6-1, 6-2; 3. Jon Vandenberg (A) d. John Schlotz 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1; 4. Ben Miller (A) d. Zach Huber 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; 5. Brent Parshall (A) d. Brandon King 2-6, 7-5, 6-2; 6. Adam Brown (A) d. Tyler Depke 6-1, 6-3.
DOUBLES: 1. John Pelton/John Gardner (H) d. Brandon Still/Jon Vandenberg (A) 8-2; 2. Andrew Lulek/Ben Miller (A) d. John Schlotz/Zach Huber 8-3; 3. Michael Garland/Jeff Vredenburg (H) d. Brent Parshall/Chris Atallah 8-4.
Kalamazoo 8, Hope 1
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) Jason Brown 6-2, 6-2; 2. Cyrus Jadun (K) d. John Gardner 5-7, 6-3, 10-5; 3. Matt Wise (K) d. John Schlotz 6-1, 5-7, 7-6 (8-6); 4. Tim Hubbard (K) d. Zach Huber 6-4, 6-1; 5. Patrick Boyd (K) d. Brandon King 6-4, 6-2; 6. Joshua Rinaldi (K) d. Zach Hoernschemeyer 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
DOUBLES: 1. Jason Brown/Tim Hubbard (K) d. John Pelton/John Gardner 8-6; 2. Matt Wise/Patrick Boyd (K) d. John Schlotz/Zach Huber (H) 8-4; 3. Cyrus Jadun/Joe Unger (K) d. Michael Garland/Jeff Vredenburg (H) 8-1.
Hope 9, Alma 0
1. John Pelton (H) d. Chris Noel 6-0, 6-0; 2. John Gardner (H) d. Josh Sanders 6-0, 6-0; 3. John Schlotz (H) d. Dan Fraser 6-3, 6-0; 4. Zach Huber (H) d. Tom Hardin 6-0, 6-1; 5. Brandon King (H) d. Kace Lovejoy 6-2, 6-4; 6. Zach Hoernschemeyer (H) d. Alex Montoye 6-4, 6-3.
DOUBLES: 1. John Pelton/John Gardner (H) Chris Noel/Josh Sanders 8-1; 2. John Schlotz/Zach Huber (H) d. Tom Hardin/Kace Lovejoy 8-0; 3. Michael Garland/Jeff Vredenburg (H) d.D an Fraser/Alex Montoye 8-4.

Flying Dutchmen Bow to Hornets (4/22/08)
The Flying Dutchmen ended the dual match portion of their schedule with an 8-1 loss to Kalamazoo on Tuesday. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen finished with a 3-3 league mark and overall 12-9 record.
SINGLES: l. John Pelton (H) def. Jason Brown (K) 7-6, 6-4; 2. John Gardner (H) lost to Cyrus Jadun (K) 3-6, 6-1, 6-1; 3. John Schlotz (H) lost to Matt Wise (K) 6-2, 1-6, 6-3; 4. Zach Huber (H) lost to Tim Hubbard (K) 6-3, 6-3; 5. Brandon King (H) lost to Pat Boyd (K) 6-2, 6-0; 6. Tyler Depke (H) lost to Josh Rinaldi (K) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES: 1. Pelton/Gardner (H) lost to Brown/Hubbard (K) 8-1; 2. Schlotz/Huber (H) lost to Wise/Boyd (K) 9-7; 3. Mike Garland (H) lost to Unger/Jadun 8-6

Flying Dutchmen Bow to Albion (4/19/08)
The Flying Dutchmen suffered a 6-3 MIAA dual match loss to visting Albion on Saturday. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 3-2 in MIAA matches and 13-8 overall.
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) d. Brandon Still 6-0, 6-2; 2. Andrew Lulek (A) d. John Gardner 6-2, 1-6, 6-2; 3. Jon Vandenberg (A) d. John Schlotz 6-1, 1-6, 6-3; 4. Ben Miller (A) d. Zach Huber 6-3, 6-4; 5. Brandon King (H) d. Brent Parshall 6-2, 6-0; 6. Chris Atallah (A) d. Brad Boelkins 6-2, 6-4
DOUBLES: 1. Pelton/Gardner (H) d. Still/Vandenberg 8-5; 2. Lulek/Miller (A) d. Schlotz/Huber 8-4; 3. Parshall/Attalah (A) d. Mike Garland/Jeff Vredenburg 8-5.

Flying Dutchmen Suffer First MIAA Loss (4/16/08)
The Flying Dutchmen suffered their first conference loss Wednesday bowing to rival Calvin 6-3. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 3-1 in MIAA dual matches and 13-7 overall.
SINGLES: #1 John Pelton (H) d. Ricky Tilton (C) 6-2, 6-3; #2 John Gardner (H) lost to Marcus Zeilstra (C) 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 #3 John Schlotz (H) lost to Steve DeMaagd (C) 6-1, 6-1; #4 Zach Huber (H) lost to Matt DeVlieger (C) 6-2, 6-2; #5 Brandon King (H) d. Mike Goorhouse (C) 6-2, 5-7, 6-1; #6 Brad Boelkins (H) lost to Andrew DeVlieger (C) 3-6, 7-5, (10-6)
DOUBLES: #1 Pelton/Gardner (H) d. Zeilstra/DeMaagd (C) 9-7; #2 Schlotz/Huber (H) lost to Tilton/Goorhouse (C) 8-6 #3 Mike Garland/Jeff Vredenburg (H) lost to DeVlieger/DeVlieger (C) 8-5

Flying Dutchmen Remain Unbeaten in MIAA (4/12/08)
The Flying Dutchmen remained unbeaten in MIAA play topping Tri-State 8-1 Saturday. Originally scheduled to be played outdoors in Angola, Ind., the match was moved to Holland so it could be played at Hope's DeWitt Tennis Center. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 12-6 overall and stand 3-0 in the MIAA.
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) d. Brett Becker 6-0, 6-1; 2. John Gardner (H) d. Nick Garstka 6-3, 6-1; 3. John Schlotz (H) d. Tim Buchmeier 6-2, 6-1; 4. Zach Huber (H) d. Issa Salsa 6-1, 6-1; 5. Brandon King (H) d. Mario Bonardi 6-1, 6-0; 6. Bryan Roth (TS) d. Zach Hoernschemeyer 6-3, 7-6 (6).
DOUBLES: 1. Pelton-Gardner (H) d. Becker-Roth 8-1; 2. Schlotz-Huber d. Garstka-Buchmeier 8-0; 3. Jeff Vredenburg-Mike Garland (H) d. Salsa-Bonardi 8-3.

Flying Dutchmen Bow Twice in GLCA (4/11/08)
The Flying Dutchmen lost a pair of matches at the Great Lakes Colleges Association tournament being held this weekend in Ohio. Coach Steve Gorno's were edged by Wabash 5-4 and then to MIAA rival Albion 5-1. Dutchmen stand 10-6 on the season.
Wabash 5, Hope 4
SINGLES: 1. #4 John Pelton (HOPE) def. #10 William Pelak (WAB) 6-2, 6-2 ; 2. Luke Bielawski (WAB) def. John Gardner (HOPE) 7-5, 4-6, 6-1; 3. Jay Horrey (WAB) def. John Schlotz (HOPE) 6-1, 6-3 ; 4. Zach Huber (HOPE) def. Ryan Tennyson (WAB) 6-2, 6-0; 5. Brandon King (HOPE) def. Ricky Ritter (WAB) 6-3, 6-0 ; 6. Ryan Waldon (WAB) def. Brad Boelkins (HOPE) 6-3, 6-3.
DOUBLES: 1. John Pelton/John Gardner (HOPE) def. Luke Bielawski/Ryan Tennyson (WAB) 8-2 ; 2. Jay Horrey/Sean Clerget (WAB) def. John Schlotz/Zach Huber (HOPE) 9-8 (7-2); 3. William Pelak/Ryan Waldon (WAB) def. Michael Garland/Jeff Vredenburg (HOPE) 9-8 (7-2).
Albion 5, Hope 1
SINGLES: #1 John Pelton (H) def. Brandon Still (A) 6-0, 7-5; #2 John Gardner (H) lost to Andrew Lulek 6-2, 6-3; #3 John Schlotz (H) lost to Jon Vandenberg 6-4, 0-6, 6-4; #4 Zach Huber (H) vs. Ben Miller (A) did not finish; #5 Brandon King (H) vs. Brent Parshall (A) did not finish; #6 Zach Hoernschemeyer (H) vs. Adam Brown (A) did not finish
DOUBLES: #1 Pelton/Gardner (H) lost to Still/Vandenberg (A) 8-6; #2 Schlotz/Huber (H) lost to Lulek/Miller (A) 8-4; #3 Mike Garland/Jeff Vredenburg (H) lost to Parshall/Chris Atallah (A) 9-8 (5)

Flying Dutchmen Remain Unbeaten in MIAA (4/8/08)
The Flying Dutchmen remain unbeaten in conference dual matches after topping visiting Alma 8-1 on Tuesday. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 2-0 in MIAA matches and 11-4 overall.
SINGLES: John Pelton (H) d. Josh Sanders 6-0, 6-0; 2. John Gardner (H) d. Chris Noel 6-1, 6-0; 3. John Scholtz (H) d. Dan Fraser 6-2, 6-0; 4. Zach Huber (H) d. Zack Kerr 6-0, 6-2; 5. Brad Boelkins (H) d. Kace Lovejoy 6-2, 6-2; 6. Alex Montoye (A) d. Jeff Vredenburg 6-1, 6-1.
DOUBLES: 1. Schlotz-Huber (H) d. Noel-Lovejoy 8-3; 2. Brandon King-Kevin Hagan (H) d. Sanders-Fraser 9-8 (7-5); 3. Zach Hoernschmeyer/Jon Lautz (H) d. Montoye-Kerr 8-5.

Flying Dutchmen Defeat Transylvania (4/5/08)
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) def. Parker Gregory (T) 6-2,6-2; 2. John Gardner (H) def. Lee Gammon (T) 6-1, 7-5; 3. John Schlotz (H) def. Collin St. Clair (T) 6-2, 6-2; 4. Zach Huber (H) def. Kyle Herren (T) 6-3,6-1; 5. Brandon King (H) def. Dalton Main (T) 6-4,6-0; 6. Brad Boelkins (H) def. Clinton Colliver (T) 6-4,6-3.
DOUBLES: 1. Pelton/Gardner (H) def. Gregory/Clayton (T) 8-6; 2. Schlotz/Huber (H) lost to Gammon/St. Clair (T) 8-3 3. Garland/Vredenburg (H) def. Main/Colliver (T) 8-1

Flying Dutchmen Bow to Aquinas in Non-League Match (4/2/08)
The Flying Dutchmen suffered a 9-0 loss to non-conference opponent Aquinas. The loss snaps Hope's seven-match winning streak and leaves the Flying Dutchmen with an 8-3 season record.
SINGLES: 1. Pat Bruining (A) d. John Pelton 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (4); 2. Jordan O’Neill (A) d. John Gardner 6-4, 7-6 (4); 3. Tuan-Anh Tran (A) d. John Schlotz 6-3, 6-4; 4. John Telfer (A) d. Zach Huber 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; ; 5. Dan Doerrfeld (A) d. Brandon King 6-0, 7-6 (4); 6. Jason Beydoun (A) d. Brad Boelkins 6-1, 6-1.
DOUBLES: 1. O’Neill/Tran (A) d. Pelton/Gardner 9-7; ; 2. Bruining/Telfer (A) d. Scholtz/Huber 8-5; 3. Beydoun/Doerrfeld (A) d. Jeff Vredenburg/Mike Garland 8-5.

Flying Dutchmen Launch MIAA Play With Win (3/29/08)
The Flying Dutchmen opened league play with a 9-0 shutout victory at Adrian on Saturday. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen extended their dual match winning streak to seven in-a-row in moving to 8-2 on the season.
SINGLES: 1. John Schlotz (H) d. Chris Ludwig 6-2, 6-3; 2. Brandon King (H) d. Orlo Yeagley 6-0, 6-2; 3. Bradley Boelkins (H) d. Dominic Merollis 6-1, 6-4 ; 4. Tyler Depke (H) d. Blake Childs 6-3, 6-1; 5. Kevin Hagan (H)d. Kyle Austene 6-1, 6-1; 6. Jonathan Lautz (H) d. Seth Knowles 6-3, 6-1.
DOUBLES: 1. John Schlotz/Zach Hoernschemeyer (H) d. Chris Ludwig/Dominic Merollis 8-6; Brandon King/Kevin Hagan (H) d. Kyle Austene/Orlo Yeagley 8-1; 3. Jeff Vredenburg/Bradley Boelkins (H) d. Blake Childs/David Blaker 8-2.

Dutchmen End Hilton Head Play With Wins (3/21/08)
The Flying Dutchmen concluded their spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C. with a pair of victories. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen will return to Michigan with a six-game winning streak. Hope is 7-2 overall.

Hope 9, Nazareth, N.Y. 0
SINGLES: #1 John Pelton (Hope) d. Jon Weaver (Nazareth) 6-1, 6-0; #2 John Gardner (Hope) d. Terrance Nichols (Nazareth) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; #3 John Schlotz (Hope) d. Adam Landry (Nazareth) 6-0, 6-0; #4 Jeff Vredenburg (Hope) d. Steve Trobert (Nazareth) 4-6, 6-2, (10-5); #5 Brad Boelkins (Hope) d. Alex Bodensiech (Nazareth) 6-1, 6-1; #6 Jon Lautz (Hope) d. Jerry Stocker (Nazareth) 6-1, 6-1. DOUBLES: #1 Pelton/Mike Garland (Hope) d. Weaver/Nichols (Nazareth) 8-6; #2 Schlotz/Zach Huber (Hope) d. Landry/Trobert (Nazareth) 8-1 #3 Lautz/Kevin Hagan (Hope) d. Ben Ciella/Stocker (Nazareth) 8-2

Hope 6, Shepherd 3
SINGLES: #1 John Pelton (Hope) d. Roger Torres (Shepherd) 6-0, 6-2; #2 John Gardner (Hope) d. Bruno Azevido (Shepherd) 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 #3 John Schlotz (Hope) lost to Casey Moser (Shepherd) 6-2, 6-2; #4 Zach Huber (Hope) d. Felipe Oliveira (Shepherd) 6-4, 2-6, (10-6) #5 Brandon King (Hope) d. Andy Bosco (Shepherd) 6-3, 6-1; #6 Zach Hoernschemeyer (Hope) lost to Scott Hasenei (Shepherd) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
DOUBLES: #1 Pelton/Gardner (Hope) d. Azevido/Moser (Shepherd) 8-4; #2 Schlotz/Huber (Hope) lost to Oliveira/Torres (Shepherd) 9-7 #3 Jeff Vredenburg/Mike Garland (Hope) d. Bosco/Hasenei (Shepherd) 8-5

Flying Dutchmen Extend Winning Streak (3/18/08)
The Flying Dutchmen extended their dual match winning streak to four in-a-row Tuesday topping Spring Arbor 7-2 and then edging St. John's, Minn. 5-4 in Hilton Head, S.C. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 5-2 on the season.
Hope 5, St. John's 4
SINGLES 1. John Pelton (HOPE) def. Trevor Beach (SJU) 6-0, 6-2; 2. John Gardner (HOPE) def. Mark Steelman (SJU) 6-4, 6-3; 3. John Schlotz (HOPE) def. Kevin Goihl (SJU) 6-1, 6-3; 4. Zach Huber (HOPE) def. Dan Ruehl (SJU) 6-4, 6-2; 5. Luke Odegaard (SJU) def. Brandon King (HOPE) 7-5, 7-5; 6. Eric Holmgren (SJU) def. Bradley Boelkins (HOPE) 4-6, 6-2, 10-2
DOUBLES1. Trevor Beach/Dan Ruehl (SJU) def. John Pelton/John Gardner (HOPE) 8-5; 2. Zach Huber/John Schlotz (HOPE) def. Mark Steelman/Luke Odegaard (SJU) 9-8 (7-5); 3. Eric Inglis/Kevin Goihl (SJU) def. Jeff Vredenburg/Michael Garland (HOPE) 8-6
Hope 7, Spring Arbor 2
SINGLES: #1 John Pelton (Hope) d. Matt Lantz (SA) 6-1, 7-5; #2 John Gardner (Hope) lost to Jordan Hoy (SA) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4; #3 John Schlotz (Hope) lost to Dave Cavender (SA) 6-3, 6-3; #4 Zach Huber (Hope) d. Matt DeRose (SA) 6-0, 6-3; #5 Brandon King (Hope) d. Wade Clark (SA) 6-1, 6-1; #6 Zach Hoernschemeyer (Hope) d. Chris Swank (SA) 6-2, 6-3
DOUBLES: #1 Pelton/Gardner (Hope) d. Lantz/Hoy (SA) 8-6; #2 Schlotz/Huber (Hope) d. Cavender/DeRose (SA) 8-3; #3 Jeff Vredenburg/Mike Garland (Hope) d. Swank/McIlrath (SA) 8-3

Flying Dutchmen Win Close One (3/17/08)
The Flying Dutchmen edged St. Thomas, Minn. 5-4 in Hilton Head on Monday. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 2-0 on their spring break trip and 4-2 overall.
SINGLES: #1 John Pelton (Hope) lost to Arya Vaughan (St. Thomas) 6-3, 6-2; #2 John Gardner (Hope) defeated Ben Herding (St. Thomas) 6-3, 6-0; #3 John Schlotz (Hope) defeated Josh Tomashek (St. Thomas) 6-3, 6-3; 4 Zach Huber (Hope) defeated Tyler Rice (St. Thomas) 7-5, 6-1; #5 Brandon King (Hope) defeated Kevin Manzel (St. Thomas) 6-3, 6-1; #6 Brad Boelkins (Hope) lost to Andy Michels (St. Thomas) 6-3, 3-6, (10-7)
DOUBLES: #1 Pelton/Gardner (Hope) defeated Herding/Tomashek (St. Thomas) 8-5; #2 Schlotz/Huber (Hope) lost to Vaughan/Rice (St. Thomas) 8-6; #3 Jeff Vredenburg/Mike Gardner (Hope) lost to Michels/Drew Carlson (St. Thomas) 8-4

Flying Dutchmen Win at Hilton Head (3/15/08)
The Flying Dutchmen won their first Spring Break matches in Hilton Head, S.C. topping Wooster, Ohio 6-3. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 3-2 in dual matches this.
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) d. Dave Albrechta 6-0, 6-1; John Gardner (H) d. Grant D'Augustine 6-3, 6-4; 3. Pat Grab (W) d. John Schlotz 6-7, 6-4 (10-3); 4. Zach Huber (H) d. Jeremy Dominik 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; 5. Brandon King (H) d. Ethan Arenstein 3-6, 6-4, 6-2; 6. Chris Collen (W) d. Jeff Vredenburg 6-3, 6-4.
DOUBLES: 1. Pelton-Gardner (H) d. Grab-D'Augustine 8-6; 2. Albrechta-Arenstein (W) d. Schlotz-Huber 8-5; 3. Vredenburg-Mike Garland (H) d. Andrew Garnett-Dominik 8-4.

Flying Dutchmen Improve to 2-1 on Young Season (3/8/08)
The Flying Dutchmen moved above the .500 mark by posting a 6-3 victory over Oberlin in Ohio on Saturday. Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen are 2-1 on the season.
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) d. Chris Pray 6-1, 6-1; 2. John Gardner (H) d. David Midler 6-2, 6-4; 3. John Schlotz (H) d. Thomas Page 6-2, 6-2; 4. Zach Huber (H) d. Ezra Goldman 6-2, 6-4; 5. Leo Sprinzen (O) d. Brandon King 7-6 (7-1), 1-6, 6-3; 6. Ben Godlove (O) d. Jeff Vredenburg 6-2, 6-1.
DOUBLES: 1. Pelton/Gardner (H) d. Pray/Colin Burling 7-3; 2. Schlotz/Huber (H) d. Goldman/Godlove 7-4; 3. Midler/Spinzen (O) d. King/Zach Hoernschemeyer 9-7.

Flying Dutchmen Compete at West Michigan Invitational(2/16/08)
The Flying Dutchmen competed in the four-team West Michigan Invitational held at the Orchard Hills Tennis Club. The invitational was a non-scoring event.

Hope had two champions in doubles play -- #1 John Gardner and John Pelton and #4 Tyler Depke and Zach Hoernschemeyer.

Finishing in second place in singles play were John Gardner, second flight; Zack Huber, fourth flight; Brandon King, fifth flight; and Tyler Depke, eighth flight.

Summary
#1 Singles: John Pelton (HOPE) defeated Marcus Zielstra (CALVIN) 6-2, 6-1; lost to Patrick Bruining (AQUINAS) 4-6, 6-4, (10-8); #2 Singles: John Gardner (HOPE) defeated Kyle Vyncke (GRCC) 6-0, 6-1; lost to Jordan O'Neill (AQUINAS) 6-2, 3-6, (11-9); #3 Singles: John Schlotz (HOPE) lost to Tuan'Ahn Tran (AQUINAS) 6-4, 6-0; lost to Jeff Karasinski (GRCC) 1-6, 6-2, (10-8); #4 Singles: Zach Huber (HOPE) defeated Matt DeVlieger (CALVIN) 6-4, 6-0; lost to John Telfer (AQUINAS) 6-3, 7-5; #5 Singles: Brandon King (HOPE) defeated Zach Chapin (GRCC) 6-2, 6-1; lost to Jason Beydoun (AQUINAS) 6-2, 6-1; #6 Singles: Jeff Vredenburg (HOPE) lost to Dan Doerfeld (AQUINAS) 6-4, 7-5; defeated Tile Akaa (GRCC) 6-1, 6-2; #7 Singles: Zach Hoernschemeyer (HOPE) lost to Roland Eldridge (CALVIN) 6-3, 6-4; defeated Pejman Kordbacheh (GRCC) 6-3, 6-3; #8 Singles: Tyler Depke (HOPE) defeated Mitch Kruizenga (GRCC) 6-1, 6-0; lost to Nick Steenstra (CALVIN) 6-3, 6-0 Exh.:Brad Boelkins (HOPE) lost to Nick Steenstra (CALVIN) 6-2, 5-7, (10-5); defeated Mitch Kruizenga (GRCC) 6-1, 6-2
#1 Doubles: Pelton/Gardner (HOPE) defeated Bruining/Doerfeld (AQUINAS) 2-6, 6-3, (10-6); defeated DeMaagd/Goorhouse (CALVIN) 6-3, 1-6, (11-9); #2 Doubles: Schlotz/Huber (HOPE) defeated Kordbacheh/Karasinski (GRCC) 6-4, 6-2; lost to O'Neill/Tran (AQUINAS) 6-3, 7-6 (8-6); #3 Doubles: Vredenburg/Mike Garland (HOPE) lost to DeVlieger/DeVlieger (CALVIN) 3-6, 7-5, (10-5); defeated Souza/Chapin (GRCC) 6-2, 6-3; #4 Doubles: Depke/John Lautz (HOPE) defeated Akaa/Kruizenga (GRCC) 6-1, 6-1; lost to Hoernschemeyer/Boelkins (HOPE) 6-3, 2-6, (10-8); Hoernschemeyer/Boelkins (HOPE) defeated Eldridge/Steenstra (CALVIN) 6-3, 6-1; defeated Depke/Lautz (HOPE) 6-3, 2-6, (10-8)

Flying Dutchmen Bow in Season Opener (2/2/08)
The Flying Dutchmen lost their season opener Saturday bowing to the University of Chicago 8-1 at the Homewood Flossmoor, Ill. tennis club. Hope's lone victory was recorded by junior John Pelton in the first flight.
SINGLES: 1. John Pelton (H) d. Zhang (C) 4-6, 6-3, (10-8); 2. Bakhutashvilli (C) d. John Gardner (H) 6-1, 6-1; 3. Brinker (C) d. John Schlotz (H) 6-0, 6-3; 4. Walsh (C) d. Zach Huber (H) 6-0, 6-1; 5. Bonner (C) d. Jeff Vredenburg (Hope) 6-0, 6-1; 6. Sithian (C) d. Brandon King (H) 4-6, 6-4, (10-5)
DOUBLES: 1. Bakhutashvilli/Saltarelli (C) d. Pelton/Gardner (H) 8-6; 2. Brinker/Tchan (C) d. Schlotz/Huber (H) 8-6; Bonner/Sithian (C) d. Vredenburg/Michael Garland (H) 8-6.

The Flying Dutchmen feature a blend of returning letterwinners and newcomers to the program. A year ago the team roster did not have any seniors. This season coach Steve Gorno's roster has seven returning letterwinners which includes three freshmen, three sophomores, five juniors and a senior.

Coach Gorno begins his 16th season. His 2007 team finished 4th in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) posting a 3-3 league dual match record and overall 9-13 record.

Co-captains of the team are juniors Zach Huber of Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa HS) and John Schlotz of Kirkwood, Mo. (Kirkwood HS).

Other returning letterwinners include sophomore John Gardner of Granville, Ohio (Granville HS), sophomore Michael Garland of Kohler, Wisc. (Kohler HS), junior Zach Hoernschmeyer of Plymouth, Mich. (Canton HS), senior Brandon King of Grandville, Mich. (Grandville HS), and sophomore Jeff Vredenburg of Grand Rapids, Mich. (Forest Hills Northern HS). Junior Tyler Depke of Grayslake, Ill. (Grayslake Community HS) is also a returnee.

John Gardner was named to the MIAA all-conference second team compiling an 11-10 singles record and 9-11 doubles mark.

Players new to the team include freshman Bradley Boelkins of Ada (Forest Hills Central HS), freshman Kevin Hagan of Oekmos, Mich. (Okemos HS), freshman Jonathan Lautz of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton North HS), and junior John Pelton of Rock Hill, S.C. (Midland, Mich. HS). Pelton is a transfer from Western Michigan University and started this season playing at first flight singles.

The Flying Dutchmen also excelled in the classroom as they received MIAA Academic Honor Roll distinction for the third time in the last four years.

For the second year, the 2008 MIAA champion will receive an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III championships. The league qualifier is determined through a season-ending team-format tournament which will be held April 25-26 at Kalamazoo College. A year ago the MIAA qualified three teams for the NCAA championships.

The 2008 schedule includes several indoor matches at Hope's six-court DeWitt Tennis Center and the team's annual spring break competition in Hilton Head, S.C.

Flying Dutchmen End Fourth in MIAA
The Flying Dutchmen finished fourth in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). Coach Steve Gorno's Dutchmen were fourth in both the seasonal dual meet standings and conference tournament. The team ended 9-13 overall in dual matches.

Senior Stephen Malvitz was voted to the All-MIAA first team and freshman John Gardner received All-MIAA second team recognition.

Malvitz was also named the recipient of the MIAA's Stowe Sportsmanship Award which is given by the league's coaches for contributions to team, leadership qualities and exemplification of Christian virtues and sportsmanship. Malvitz was the seventh Hope player to receive it in the last eight years. In 15 seasons under coach Steve Gorno, the Stowe award has gone to a Hope player 10 times.

The Flying Dutchmen received an Academic Team Award from the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) for achieving a cumulative 3.351 grand point average. The men's tennis program has been honored for academic achievement three of the last four years.