Freshman Jackson Clements jumps into the air to strike ball |
Courtesy of the Hillsdale Athletic Department

After last week’s loss and a few lineup changes, the Chargers men’s tennis team bounced back to defeat Purdue University Northwest 6-1 Feb. 14, moving their record to 3-1 overall.

“It was the most complete match we’ve played so far this year,” head coach Keith Turner said. “It showed that we can compete for an NCAA tournament bid.”

Junior pair Ellis Klanduch and Henry Hammond opened play at No. 1 doubles and got a 6-4 win in just 26 minutes. 

“We compliment each other pretty well,” Klanduch said. “On Saturday, neither of us played great tennis, but we were able to pick each other up and eventually get to a better level of tennis.”

Sophomore pair Ryan Papazov and Alex Cordero Lopez lost 4-6  at No. 2 doubles, but freshmen duo Jackson Clements and Patrick Cretu brought home a gritty 7-6 win at No. 3 to earn the lone doubles point.

“Patrick and Jackson clinching the doubles point for us was huge, and it took a bit of pressure off us going into the singles,” Turner said.

In singles play, the Chargers earned five of the six possible points, with wins coming at No. 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 singles. Klanduch, Hammond, and Cretu each picked up their second win of the day, while Papazov and Cordero Lopez earned their first.

Cordero Lopez dropped the opening set 7-5 to Purdue Northwest’s Daniel Sroka at No. 6 singles, but he did not let that knock him down. 

“After the first set, I knew I had to change something in my strategy,” Cordero Lopez said. “I began to make the points longer instead of trying to win the point in a few shots.”

Cordero Lopez’s strategy worked with a 6-3 win in the second set, and he eventually went on to win the third set tiebreak 10-5 after an hour and 46 minutes on court.

“Even though we had already won, I still had the same hunger to win that match,” Cordero Lopez said. “Giving my team the last point for a 6-1 win instead of a 5-2 win would give us a high morale boost.”

The Chargers will travel to Ferris State University on Feb. 21 and Davenport University on Feb. 22 to take on two in-state foes.

“We have a very tough schedule coming up,” Turner said. “It was important to gain some confidence from this match after a disappointing loss last week.”

The Chargers will return home on Saturday, Feb. 28, to take on No. 23 nationally-ranked Wayne State University at 1 p.m. in the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Facility.