Charger women’s tennis posted a 4-0 sweep against Ashland University at home April 19, adding to a weekend of Charger athletic wins over the Eagles.
Earlier in the weekend, the Chargers also won 4-0 against the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets April 18.
“The team walked into both matches this weekend with a ‘let’s just get it done’ mentality,” senior Libby McGivern said. “We wanted to win and knew that we could, and that’s what we did. Everyone played with a lot of confidence.”
Sophomore Ané Dannhauser earned the title of Great Midwest Athletic Conference women’s tennis Player of the Week for the fourth time this season, winning all four of the matches she appeared in this weekend.
“This was honestly such a great weekend to end on,” Dannhauser said. “We took care of business and did exactly what we needed to finish our regular season and secure the three seed.”
In Friday’s match against Cedarville, Dannhauser and freshman Briana Rees took a 6-3 win at the No. 1 doubles spot. Dannhauser and Rees are currently ranked No. 19 in the NCAA Division II. Meanwhile, senior pair McGivern and Courtney Rittel won 6-4 at the No. 2 position.
“We were put together this weekend at the last minute due to a sickness on the team and we just played so well,” McGivern said. “It was an awesome way to win as seniors together.”
Freshman Julia Zlateva made her doubles debut at No. 3 doubles this week, and partnered with junior Bella Spinazze to win 6-1.
“Julia did so well,” Spinazze said. “She stepped into her role in doubles seamlessly. She was a beast at the net and very consistent at the baseline.”
The Chargers also dominated in singles against the Yellow Jackets and won all three matches.
At No. 1 singles, Dannhauser was leading 6-2, 4-1 but her opponent retired due to an injury. Rees won her No. 3 match 6-1, 6-0, and Rittel took a 6-0, 6-0 sweep at No. 4 singles.
On Saturday against Ashland, the Chargers honored seniors McGivern and Rittel in their final home match.
At No. 1 doubles, Dannhauser and Rees won 6-2, while McGivern and Rittel dominated 6-0. Spinazze and Zlateva took another 6-1 win on the weekend at No. 3 doubles.
“Our whole team came out so confident in doubles, which really set the tone for both matches,” Spinazze said.
In singles against the Eagles, the Chargers won every match.
Dannhauser swept 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, and in the No. 2 spot, McGivern took a 6-2, 6-0 victory. Rees won the No. 3 match 6-3, 6-0.
“My energy was great and I just had a lot of fun out there,” McGivern said. “I knew it was my last weekend of home matches so I wanted to make the most of it.”
The team’s undefeated weekend secured the No. 3 seed in this week’s G-MAC Tournament, where the Chargers will face No. 6 seed Thomas More University in Owensboro, Kentucky, in the first round of tournament play Thursday.
“We played well and did a good job of handling the nerves, and I hope we are able to do that this week,” Dannhauser said. “I’m super excited to travel with the team and see what we can do.”
