The Chargers took home two wins this weekend going 6-1 against Purdue Northwest and 7-0 against Michigan Tech.
“It’s a really good look for the national rankings and the regional rankings toward the end of the year if they look at our results, and we beat teams we were supposed to beat by 6-1, 7-0,” senior Tyler Conrad said.
In Saturday’s match against Purdue Northwest, juniors Brennan Cimpeanu and Sean Barstow grabbed the No. 1 doubles point, winning 6-4. Senior Brian Hackman and freshman Aidan Pack then lost 4-6 at No. 2 doubles before Conrad and junior Daniel Gilbert took No. 3 doubles, winning the tie-break 7-4.
“Doubles just started out a little bit slow,” Gilbert said. “Our No. 2 doubles ended up losing, but it was a good team they played. Then we were able to squeeze out the doubles point at three doubles. We barely clinched it, and then I think that really fired us up for singles.”
At No. 1 singles Cimpeanu went 5-7, 6-2, and finally lost 10-5 in the tie-break.
“I just feel like this season, it’s been a little rough for me,” Cimpeanu said. “I feel like a lot of pressure is just coming into this as an All-American having to relive that and play how I did last year.”
Cimpeanu said that the team has really been supporting him and each other throughout the season.
“If I lose a point, if I lose a game, they’re coming next to me,” Cimpeanu said. “They’re high-fiving me, they’re coming next to my chair and saying, ‘Hey, you’ve got this. Play your game. Just be yourself.’ And that’s the whole atmosphere.”
The rest of the team pulled out wins, Pack 6-3, 6-4; Hackman 6-3, 6-1; Conrad 6-3, 6-0; Barstow 6-1, 6-1; and Gilbert 6-2, 6-2.
“If you play teams that you’re supposed to be better than, it’s easy to just relax,” Barstow said. “But I think we did a good job of not letting them get any momentum or take matches off of us.”
On Sunday the Chargers swept up doubles with three wins against Michigan Tech: Barstow and Cimpeanu 6-1, Hackman and Pack 6-3, and Conrad and Gilbert 6-4.
“We knew that team was gonna be kind of the same ability level as the last team,” Gilbert said. “We knew if we really focused and played to our level that we would be able to get the win, but it definitely took a lot of intensity to get the 7-0.”
Cimpeanu came through with a win 6-0, 6-2. Each successive player did the same, taking all possible points for the day. Pack won 6-3, 6-3; Hackman 7-4, 6-2; Conrad 6-3, 6-1; Barstow 6-2, 6-1; and Gilbert, 6-0, 6-1.
“We went out and we won that one 7-0 which is a real convincing win,” Conrad said. “It was pretty unremarkable to be honest with you. I mean, it was nice as our last home match for six weeks. So yeah, we just came out and we dominated them.”
While the Charger’s secured wins on both days, they didn’t drop a single set throughout the entirety of Sunday.
“With Ferris State we were the underdog, so I guess we didn’t have any pressure on us,” Cimpeanu said. “This match, the pressure was on us to win since, on paper, we were the better team. The other team didn’t have pressure, so we had to stay focused, stay committed and just play our games, and it ended up working for us.”
The Chargers now prepare to play Saturday at 5 p.m. in Grandville, Michigan, against the Grand Valley State University Lakers.
“I think we’re probably not the favorites,” Barstow said. “Doubles will be important. I think we’ll be ready, but we just got to be ready to play long matches.”
As they move forward in the season, many members of the team said that doubles matches need attention, though they have improved.
“It’s come to a point where we’re finally kind of getting all that rust off from winter break, and we’re finally into the competition atmosphere,” Cimpaneau said. “They’re here to compete. They’re ready to go.”