Results
HOLLAND, Mich. – The Calvin University women's tennis team enjoyed a strong start to the 2025-26 season and the tenure of new head coach
George Rodriguez at the Hope College Fall Invitational over the weekend.
The Knights had 10 players participating in both singles and doubles competition at the event across six singles brackets (of 16) and three doubles brackets.
In the top bracket (Draw A),
Marina Ribeiro (santos Sal Paolo, Brazil/Santa Cecilia) won her first match 8-3 before losing to an NCAA I competitor from Western Michigan University in the round of eight 8-1.
Ryan Morey (Grand Rapids, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) and
Tessa Holman (Washington, Mich./Romeo) each fell in their first round matches in Draw B by the scores of 8-4 and 8-2.
Julia Hooker (East Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) won her first round match 8-6 in Draw C before falling 8-4 in the round of eight.
Ana Ornellas (Londrina, Brazil/Colegio Saber) also played in that draw and lost her opening match 8-3.
In Draw D,
Rachel Grissom (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) won 8-5 in round one before an 8-5 defeat in round two.
Elise Norman (Kalamazoo, Mich./Lakeview) dropped her first round match 8-7 (7-4) in a tiebreaker in Draw D.
Alex VerMeulen (Grand Rapids, Mich./Grand Rapids Christian) won her first round match in Draw E 8-5 before losing a tiebreaker 8-7 (7-4) in round two.
Carrie Grissom (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) and
Addie Cumings (Hudsonville, Mich./Jenison) each drew byes in their first rounds of Draw F.
Carrie Grissom won her first match 8-4 before an 8-0 defeat in the final four, while Cumings fell in the round of eight 8-4.
In doubles, Ribeiro and Morey dropped their first round match 6-3 but came back to win the "back draw" of Draw A.
Ornellas and Hooker advanced to the second round of Draw B with a bye and then won their first match 7-5 before a 6-2 defeat in the final four. Holman and Norman lost their first match in that draw 6-1.
The team of
Carrie Grissom and Cumings won 6-2 to advance to the second round of Draw C, while the team of
Rachel Grissom and Vermeulen lost their first match 7-5 in that draw.
COACH'S COMMENT: "we had great results at Hope overall," Rodriguez said. "I emphasized to the teams that right now it's not about results but about the process. We used this weekend to get matches in and to see where we are at as individuals and as a team. I told the team I was not looking at their wins and losses but at their effort, grit and grind on court. Thats exactly what the Fall is for. To keep building and developing our physical, emotional and mental state. The wins will take care of themselves once we focus on the process. But overall, I loved what I saw from both teams and the potential is through the roof!"
NEXT UP: Calvin women's tennis will return to action on Friday, September 19, when it plays in the ITA Regional Small College Championships hosted by WashU.
