Holland Christian tennis claims regional championship for coach's birthday — again
For the second consecutive season, the Holland Christian girls tennis team has made the most of coach Lynn Bender’s birthday.
In fact, it is becoming a birthday tradition.
For the second year in a row, the Maroons claimed the Division 3 regional championship on Bender’s birthday, earning a spot in the state tournament.
“This was a very special day and we are so thankful. To celebrate a win on my birthday was the best gift ever,” Bender said.
The Maroons scored 19 points to win the regional title on their home courts on Friday — 10 points ahead of anyone else in the field.
Holland Christian’s Hope Rhodes won the flight championship at No. 1 singles, earning a dominating 6-0, 6-0 win over Fruitport in the finals.
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At No. 1 doubles, Ainsley VandenBrink and Lilly DeVries won the flight title with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Whitehall in the finals.
At No. 2 doubles, Kayla VandenBerg-Monika Diaz won the title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Whitehall in the finals.
At No. 4 doubles, Abi Kraal-Nicole Genzink claimed the championship with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Whitehall.
At No. 3 singles, Eva VanKlompenberg reached the finals before falling to Ludington in a three-set final.
At No. 4 singles, Holland Christian’s Jenna Grotenhuis reached the finals, losing 6-3, 6-3 to Whitehall.
At No. 3 doubles, Larissa Bol-Esmay Klingenberg reached the finals before falling 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to Ludington.
At No. 2 singles, Bria Lampen reached the semifinals.
“I am so proud of these girls we are a young team and they have shown so much maturity this year and growing in their games from where we started a couple months ago,” Bender said. “For many of these girls playing doubles is completely new to them and two singles players who never played singles before and are pulling out some great wins for us. We are excited to go to the state championships in Midland in a couple weeks.”
— Contact Sports Editor Dan D'Addona at Dan.D'Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona and Facebook @Holland Sentinel Sports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Christian tennis claims regional championship for coach's birthday — again
