First-year coach Nate Price will build the defending Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) champions around five returning letterwinners.

Familiar with the Hope scene as head tennis professional of the college's DeWitt Tennis Center, Price is filling the position created by the death from cancer of longtime coach Karen Page in July, 2009. He will be assisted by 2009 Hope graduate Samantha Stille who was the conference MVP last spring.

The 2009 Flying Dutch won the MIAA championship for the first time in a decade posting a perfect 8-0 dual match and 3-0 conference tournament mark. They posted an overall 20-6 dual match record, including a string of 15 consecutive victories, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III championships.

The returnees include three-time senior letterwinners Marissa Kooyers of Holland (Holland Christian HS), team captain Elizabeth Olson of Ankeny, Iowa (Ankeny HS), and Danielle Werley of Holland (Holland HS). Returning junior letterwinners are Katherine Garcia of Battle Creek (Battle Creek Central HS) and Nicole Spagnuolo of Okemos (Okemos HS).

Garcia and Spagnuolo received All-MIAA second team honors last spring. Each won 15 singles matches as sophomores and combined at second flight doubles to record 23 wins including two victories at the NCAA tournament.

A season highlight will be hosting the MIAA championship tournament on April 30-May 1.

The Flying Dutch won the MIAA women's tennis championship for the first time in a decade, but it was the story behind the victories that should be told. Midway through an undefeated conference season, head coach Karen Page had to leave the team to undergo emergency surgery in her ongoing struggle against cancer. The team rallied behind assistant coach Dwayne "Tiger" Teusink '58 and in support of Coach Page to win the MIAA tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA Championships where they advanced to the second round. Coach Page was able to join the team at the national tournament.

The Flying Dutch posted an overall 20-6 dual match record, including a string of 15 consecutives victories.

Senior Samantha Stille of Holland, Mich. (Holland HS) was voted the MIAA's most valuable player. Stille was a four-time All-MIAA honoree. She posted an 18-8 record in 2009 and ended with a collegiate mark of 61-34.

Receiving All-MIAA second team honors were sophomores Katherine Garcia of Battle Creek, Mich. (BC Central HS) and Nicole Spagnuolo of Okemos, Mich. (Okemos HS).

The Flying Dutch competed in the NCAA tournament for the sixth time in school history and the first time since 2000. The Flying Dutch opened with a 6-0 victory over Keuka, N.Y., but bowed in the second round to Mary Washington, Va. 5-1.