NOTRE DAME, Ind. – The Calvin women's tennis team extended its winning streak to seven matches on Wednesday. The Knights secured one of the top three seeds in the MIAA Tournament with a 6-3 victory at Saint Mary's. Calvin improves to 12-6 and 6-1 in MIAA play. Saint Mary's falls to 10-12 and 4-3 in the MIAA, the Belles will be the No. 4 seed in the MIAA Tournament and will play Hope.
"I am really proud of the team," said Calvin head coach Kevin Van Haitsma. "Today was a really tough match against a really good team. It wasn't the easiest of conditions today with the heat and with the wind. I am really proud of the team for being able to grind out the victory today."
The seven-match winning streak is the longest under coach Van Haitsma and the Knights will finish in the top-three of the MIAA for the third-straight year.
The Knights struck first on Wednesday with a victory at No. 3 doubles. The team of junior Micaela Seazzu (Albuquerque, N.M./Sandia) and junior Jessica Bouma (Kalamazoo, Mich./Kalamazoo Christian) bounced Maddie Minaudo and Elizabeth Preister, 8-2. The Calvin duo is now 12-2 on the year and Calvin is now 16-2 at No. 3 doubles on the year.
The Belles would take the lead with victories at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.
Senior Claire Spoelhof (Holland, Mich./Holland Christian) tied the match at two with a victory at No. 1 singles. Spoelhof avenged a loss to Monica Davy in 2016 with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Davy on Wednesday. Spoelhof is now 6-1 in MIAA play.
Saint Mary's struck back with a victory at No. 6 singles.
Micaela Seazzu sank Meaghan Flynn at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 6-1. Seazzu is now 7-4 at No. 4 singles and has won three straight matches.
Freshman Anna Asfour (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) gave the Knights the lead with a win at No. 5 singles. Asfour edged Maddie Minaudo, 7-5, 6-3. Asfour has now won seven-straight matches and is 6-1 in MIAA play.
Jessica Bouma secured the victory for Calvin with a 7-6 (2), 6-4 victory at No. 2 singles over Kelsey Kopf. With the victory, Bouma is 6-1 in MIAA play and has won her last seven matches.
Senior Ellie Benzel sealed the deal for Calvin with a three-set thriller at No. 3 singles. Benzel defeated Sam Setterblad, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Benzel boosted her record to 3-1 in MIAA play in 2017 and 6-4 at No. 3 singles.
Calvin will host Kalamazoo on Saturday for the final match of the regular season. The winner of the match will be the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Tournament and will host the loser of Saturday's match on Thursday, May 4.
