HOLLAND, Mich. - The Spring Arbor University women's tennis team opened its 2026–27 season at the Hope Invitational, highlighted by a doubles championship from Dayra Novella and Liliana Salas Bejarano.
 
Novella and Salas Bejarano went 3–0 to win the B doubles draw, while Salas Bejarano also captured the C singles consolation title. The Cougars recorded 10 singles victories and three doubles wins during the event.
 
Novella and Salas Bejarano opened doubles play with a 6–4 victory over Ohio Northern's Austin/McLane before defeating John Carroll's Dobos/Miller 6–3 in the semifinals. The SAU pair secured the championship with an 8–2 win over Western Michigan's Richardson/Jiang.
 
Salas Bejarano added two singles victories to finish 5–1 across both events. After falling 8–5 to Western Michigan's Xintong Jiang in her opening match, she defeated Ohio Northern's Audrey Hartsel 8–5 and John Carroll's Maddie Miller 8–0 to win the consolation bracket.
 
Lilah Dean and Kaitlyn Schmitt each finished 2–1 in singles and earned third-place finishes in their respective draws. Dean opened the D draw with an 8–6 victory over Hope's Kaitlyn Stievater and closed with an 8–4 win over John Carroll's Madi Davila. Schmitt defeated Hope's Ahava LeFebre 8–6 in the E draw before securing third place with an 8–5 victory over Calvin's Rachel Grissom.
 
Madelyn Dell also posted a 2–1 singles record in round-robin play, defeating Hope's Wren Walker 8–4 and Calvin's Addie Cummings 8–3.
 
Victoria Herrington earned an 8–6 singles victory over John Carroll's Evelyn Deren in the A draw, while Novella added an 8–5 win over John Carroll's Emma Smith in the B consolation bracket.

Spring Arbor will compete in the Albion College Doubles Tournament in Albion, Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 19.