KALAMAZOO, Mich. - The Kalamazoo College women's tennis team lost 5-4 to No. 26 Hope College at Stowe Stadium on Saturday.
In addition to being nationally ranked, Hope is ranked sixth in the region while Kalamazoo is ranked 10th.
Hope's win broke a tie for first place in the MIAA as the Flying Dutch improved to 4-0 in conference play (14-4 overall) while Kalamazoo fell to 3-1 (10-6 overall).
Hope won the first two matches in doubles before Kalamazoo's Sarah Woods and Sabrina Dass won 8-6 at one doubles. Woods and Dass are ranked fifth in the region and defeated the region's fourth-ranked team.
The match was tied 3-3 after wins by Olivia Bouchard at four singles (6-2, 6-1) and Sarah Woods at one (6-4, 6-2). Hope claimed wins at six and three to clinch the match with five wins before Maria Franco made it a 5-4 final with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win at two singles.
Woods is ranked third in the region in singles and defeated Nancy Benda who is ranked 14th.
Kalamazoo returns to action on Sunday with a match at Adrian College scheduled for 1 p.m.