After breaking their two-match win streak with a 7-2 loss to Tiffin on Saturday, the Hillsdale women’s tennis team rallied and won 7-2 against Findlay on Sunday.
Saturday’s loss to the Dragons gave the Chargers their first defeat of the season.
“They are definitely the toughest team we’ve played yet,” said head coach Nikki Walbright, whose team is now 3-1 on the season.
Walbright said it was a good learning experience for the women and gave them momentum they needed for the rest of the weekend.
“I think we can definitely beat that team. They just kind of threw us. Their game style is different from anyone on our team or in the league,” Walbright said.
Despite the overall loss, freshman Corinne Prost had an exceptional day, posting the sole win for the Chargers at No. 5 singles. Prost then teamed up with junior Dana Buck for No. 2 doubles, gaining a second victory for Hillsdale.
Prost described the win as “bittersweet”, and accredits her victories to the on-court coaching of Walbright and volunteer assistant coach Katrin Gross, who is a foreign exchange student from Germany.
“The wins carry two independent perspectives,” Prost said. “As a single player, I’m proud of myself, but as a teammate, I’m saddened. I would trade in my two wins if it meant the rest of the team would win, just so I could rejoice in the team victory, as opposed to a small, sole celebration.”
The team came back strong the following day, pulling a 7-2 victory over Findlay raising their season record to 3-1. Walbright said the team was eager to make up for the previous day’s loss.
“I think Saturday really helped get their minds set. Every match is going to be very tough, and they need to be very confident and adaptable,” Walbright said.
Prost capped off her matches with another win at No. 5 doubles, and then once again joined forces with Buck to complete her perfect weekend score.
“Corinne and I went out there and fought hard and played tight tennis, and then she went out there and had an amazing singles match too,” Buck said. “I was so proud.”
Freshmen Halle Hyman and Julia Formentin contributed to the score with an 8-1 win at No. 3 doubles. Hyman continued with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 1 singles.
At No. 3 and 4 singles, veteran players seniors Lindsay Peirce and Sydney Delp cruised to straight-set victories. At No. 6 singles, freshman Madeline Bissett eased to a 6-0, 6-1 win.
“The most difficult part of the weekend may have been regenerating the strength to fight again on Sunday after Saturday’s loss,” Prost said. “The uncertainty of the next day weighed over us, but I’m proud to say our team pulled through and more.”
Now the Chargers prepare for their matches against Grand Valley State and Ferris this coming weekend. Walbright said Grand Valley and Ferris are a couple of the toughest teams in the GLIAC, but she is excited to see how the weekend will turn out.
“We’re a great team, and I think we definitely have the ability to beat them, but we know it’s going to be a challenge,” Walbright said. “We will have to earn it.”