Tennis goes 2-0 on weekend

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Tennis goes 2-0 on weekend
Freshman Brian Hackman plays at home earlier last season. (S. Nathaniel Grime | Collegian)

The Hillsdale College men’s tennis team won their last two matches, sweeping Michigan Tech University 7-0 on March 13 and Northwood University 4-3 on March 21. 

Against Michigan Tech, the Chargers won all eight matches and dropped only one set. The doubles teams won all three matches, with No. 1 doubles team of sophomore Tyler Conrad and freshman Sean Barstow winning 6-2, freshman Brennan Cimpeanu and senior Gabe Katz winning 6-3 at No. 2, and junior Brian Hackman and freshman Daniel Gilbert winning 6-2 at No. 3 doubles. 

Conrad won at No. 1 singles 6-3, 6-0, Cimpeanu won 6-1, 6-1 at no. 2 doubles, Barstow won 6-0, 6-3, and Gilbert won 6-0, 6-1. 

Hackman rallied from a 7-6(5) first set tiebreaker loss at No. 3 singles to come back and win 6-1, 10-6.

Against Northwood, the doubles play was critical. Conrad and Barstow lost 6-1, but the teams Cimpeanu/Katz and Gilbert/Hackman won 7-5 and 6-0 to secure the doubles point. 

“It has been a lot of fun playing alongside Gabe (Katz),” said Cimpeanu. “The main key for us to keep playing well together is staying aggressive at the net and working on moving around the court.”

In singles, Northwood and Hillsdale split the matches, each winning three. Cimpeanu won 6-4, 6-3 and Gilbert and Katz secured the other two victories 6-3, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-1.

Hackman and Barstow both went to three sets, but could not rally to win, losing 6-7, 6-2, 6-7 and 6-1, 6-7, 6-7. 

“I think we just need to have a bit more consistency up and down the lineup,” said head coach Keith Turner. “We need everyone’s best for every match.”

The Chargers play Indiana Tech University on Friday, March 26 at noon, and Kentucky Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 27. Indiana Tech was ranked No. 23 in the nation in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 

“The match will be a good challenge for us,” said Turner. “I’m sure we’ll be focused for that match.” 

The match against Kentucky Wesleyan begins the G-MAC play for the Chargers. 

“I am super excited to compete against other conference teams,” said Cimpeanu. “My main thing is to stay confident in my shots and with myself.”

Turner said there are no new injuries to his players at the moment. 

“We’ve been a little dinged up but giving the guys 5 days off over break seemed to help,” said Turner. “Besides our obvious injuries to Ivan Lissanevitch and Bogdan Janicijevic, we’re in pretty good shape health-wise which is a relief.”