GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Calvin fell to rival Hope 7-2 Wednesday afternoon inside the Huizenga Tennis and Track Center but not without a fight.

Facing the defending MIAA champion and nationally-ranked Flying Dutch, Calvin (8-4 overall, 1-1 MIAA) took a point at No. 1 doubles and another at No. 3 singles. The Knights also took Hope to three sets at No. 4 and No. 5 singles but could not close out the win at either flight.

Ranked 27th nationally, Hope (7-4 overall, 1-0 MIAA) took two of the three doubles points as Anna Garcia and Taylor LaBarge defeated Calvin's Jessica Bouma and Micaela Seazzu 8-2 at No. 2 doubles while Hope's Amanda Susnak and Kate Mader defeated Calvin's Liz Turner and Lark Foote 8-3 at No. 3 doubles.

Calvin pulled a suprise at No. 1 doubles however as its tandem of Ellie Benzel and Claire Spoelhof toppled Hope's team of Nancy Benda and Marie Holoway 8-3.

Hope then built a 4-1 lead with wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles as Benda topped Benzel 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 singles and Garcia defeated Spoelhof 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles.

Bouma came back with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles to make the score 4-2.

Hope then pulled out a pair of come-from-behind wins at No. 4 and No. 5 singles to seal the victory. Hope's Kate Mader was a 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 winner at No. 4 singles over Seazzu while Natalie Rahrig pulled out a 3-6, 6-0, 12-10 win at No. 5 singles.

The match concluded at No. 6 singles with Hope's Taylor LaBarge defeating Kari Kroeze 6-4, 6-2.

"I thought we pushed Hope and gave them a great match," said Calvin women's tennis coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "We had a great win at No. 1 doubles and Jessica Bouma had an outstanding win at No. 3 singles. We had a few other matches that could have gone either way and that's a good sign for this team because we are improving. The last two years we've lost to Hope 9-0 but today's match was a good competitive match. I credit Hope for the win. They played well and were the better team today but I can't fault the effort of my team whatsoever."

Calvin will travel to Kalamazoo on Saturday for a 1 p.m. match.