The Hillsdale College women’s tennis team battled out a victory on its home court over Lake Superior State University, 4-3.
“Leading up to the match, I felt it was definitely winnable,” junior Canela Luna said. “I also knew it was going to be tough play.”
Senior Sarah Hackman and freshman Melanie Zampardo won their doubles match 6-2 against Milena Baigorria and Nadege Koua.
Hackman said Baigorria and Koua played more aggressively but made more mistakes, which made winning the match easier for the Chargers.
“The doubles match was going to be tough and a very different style of play compared to the school the week prior,” Hackman said. “I think that Mel and I were able to really capitalize on the fact that they liked playing a similar game style to us. I don’t know if they were having an off day but I think Mel and I fell somewhere in the middle. We were able to do more at the net and be more consistent than them.”
Hackman also won her singles match against Koua 6-2, 6-1.
“I think after the first set, after I’d won that, the girl I was playing started asking for a timeout and at that point I knew that her head wasn’t in the match,” Hackman said.
Hillsdale also picked up a win with freshman Libby McGivern and junior Ellie Chawner taking their doubles match, 6-4.
“We were down in our set and we were able to come back and win it so that was really exciting to do with her,” McGivern said.
In singles, McGivern beat Muskaan Ranjan 6-2, 6-4.
“She got the better of me in the first couple games, and I came back and started winning,” McGivern said. “And then, I was able to close it out at the end when she started playing better as well, instead of getting tight and not being able to finish it.”
Junior Canela Luna and senior Sophia Spinazze worked together in doubles, securing a 6-3 win.
McGivern said she enjoyed watching Spinazze in her singles match.
“Sophia did a great job in her match, being decisive with her opponent,” McGivern said. “She wasn’t really distracted by anything even though she probably knew that if she won her match, that meant that we’d win as a team. She won her match and it was like it didn’t even matter, she just carried it really well.”
The team will compete next against Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL. on March 14 at 2 pm. The team is already looking forward to conference matches set for after spring break.
“It was a very good effort by the team to finally come out with a win here right before spring break,” Hackman said. “One of our last couple matches before we start conference play. It’s a good conference booster.”
