The Hillsdale women’s tennis team narrowly lost 5-2 to Ferris State and 4-3 to Lewis University this weekend.  

On Feb. 10, senior Sarah Hackman and junior Melanie Zampardo kicked off the match against the Ferris State Bulldogs with a 6-3 victory at No. 1 doubles. Senior Canela Luna was awarded with G-MAC Player of the Week honors.

Defending their home court after a defeat at No. 2 doubles, Luna and freshman Megan Hackman triumphed 6-1 at No. 3 doubles.

Luna said she has already seen growth this season, in the team as well as herself.

“For me personally, my return of serve has improved with each match we’ve played,” Luna said. “For the team, we are more supportive and cheering each other on more at each game.”

Zampardo claimed the first singles points at the No. 2 spot, winning 7-3 in a second-set tiebreak. However, despite her efforts, she eventually fell short 6-3, 7-6 (3), 7-5. Securing 6-2 and 7-5 wins over the Bulldogs at No. 3 singles, Luna remained undefeated throughout the entirety of the match.

“For one, when I am on court I can always feel tons of support from my teammates, on the courts around me, and the whole rest of the team off court,” Zampardo said. “I think doubles on Saturday against Ferris was a highlight because we stepped up and got the doubles point against a high-level team.”

Sophomore Libby McGivern came up short in her No. 4 singles match, losing a third-set tiebreak with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (3) score. Like McGivern, Megan was unable to fight off the Bulldogs at No. 6 singles and barely lost in a tight 7-5, 6-4 match.

The next day, the Chargers took on the Lewis Flyers at the Biermann Center on Feb. 11.

McGivern and senior Ellie Chawner fell short in a 8-6 match at No. 2 doubles, and Luna and Megan also lost in a 6-4 defeat at No. 3 doubles.

The Chargers needed to win four singles matches to defeat the Flyers and started to turn the tide of the match with three successful performances from Zampardo, Luna, and Chawner.

Zampardo won  6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, Luna won 6-3, 6-1 at No. 3 singles, and Chawner triumphed  6-2, 6-3, 6-3 at the No. 5 spot, earning Hillsdale’s third singles victory. 

However, the Chargers were unable to take the fourth match.

“I think both matches did not go the way we wanted, results wise, but I think there were a lot of great things that came from the match,” Luna said. “Each time we see improvement in one way or another.”

The Chargers are 3-1 this season and will compete against Purdue Northwest on Feb. 18. and Michigan Tech on Feb. 19.