Freshman Patrick Cretu swats ball
Courtesy | Ashley Van Hoose
The Hillsdale College men’s tennis team opened its series of spring break matches with a two-match split, falling 6-1 to Carson-Newman University March 13 and earning a 5-2 win over Quincy University March 17. The team finished with a 6-1 loss to No. 46 ranked Northwood University in its Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener March 22, moving to 5-6 on the season and 0-1 in conference play.
Hillsdale began the trip in Tennessee, where Carson-Newman claimed the doubles point early after winning the first two doubles matches. The No. 3 doubles team of sophomores Samuel Plys and Rintaro Goda earned the Chargers’ only doubles win, 7-5.
Carson-Newman carried that momentum into singles, winning five of six singles matches to secure the team victory. Sophomore Alex Cordero Lopez provided Hillsdale’s lone point of the day with a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 5 singles.
“This match was tough,” head coach Keith Turner said. “We only had one practice outdoors, and we had to play in 40 mph wind gusts.”
Despite the team struggles, Lopez credited the outdoor courts in his win.
“Going outdoors again for the Carson-Newman and Quincy matches was an advantage for me,” Lopez said. “I feel that my game is better suited for those courts.”
The Chargers then travelled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to face the Quincy University Hawks on March 17.
The Chargers started off against Quincy by claiming the doubles point as sophomore Ryan Papazov and junior Ellis Klanduch won 7-6, and sophomores Samuel Plys and Goda won 6-2.
Freshmen pair Patrick Cretu and Jackson Clements lost 3-6.
“Unfortunately, Cretu fractured his foot sliding into a fence on match point,” Turner said. “He’s out for the year, which is a huge loss for us.”
Hillsdale turned to singles play to close out the match, winning four matches to secure the win.
“Our match against Quincy was a much better performance,” Turner said. “We played very well in singles overall.”
Plys earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 2, while Klanduch followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win at No. 4. Junior Henry Hammond battled back after dropping the second set to win in a third set tiebreak at No. 3, and Cordero Lopez added a 7-5, 6-1 victory at No. 5.
Hillsdale closed out spring break by travelling to Midland, Michigan, to kick off G-MAC play against Northwood on March 22.
Northwood won five of the six matches but Hillsdale’s lone point against Northwood came at No. 4 singles, where Klanduch won 7-6, 7-6. Turner said it was Klanduch’s best match of the year.
“As a team, we can improve with everyone playing their very best tennis at the same time,” Klanduch said. “We have the depth, but we just haven’t been able to pull through yet.”
The Chargers will continue conference play as they return to the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center to host No. 44 ranked University of Findlay March 27 and No. 19 ranked Tiffin University March 28.
