The Hillsdale College women’s tennis team took the courts by storm on Saturday, sweeping all matches to beat Huntington 9-0 in their final match of the spring season.
After two weekends of cancelled matches due to poor weather, Hillsdale finally had the chance to compete in Huntington at their last scheduled match of the season. The win left the Chargers’ overall record at 9-9.
With strong performances throughout the lineup, head coach Nikki Walbright said that she was proud of the entire team’s effort.
“I really think everyone stood out,” Walbright said. “It was one of the first times of the whole year I really felt we had a complete team effort and everyone stood out with their wins.”
Seniors Sydney Delp and Lindsay Peirce both won their final singles matches of their college careers. Delp, at No. 4 singles, cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 win over her opponent, while Peirce dominated with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 5 singles.
Freshman Halle Hyman, who was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year in the fall, closed her first collegiate season with a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles.
Junior Dana Grace Buck grabbed a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles, and freshmen Madeline Bissett — at No. 3 singles — and Julia Formentin — at No. 6 singles — also eased to wins.
On the doubles side of the day, Hyman and Peirce brought home an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles. Freshman Corinne Prost and Delp won 8-2 at No. 2 doubles, and at No. 3 doubles, junior Jada Bissett and Buck picked up an 8-2 win.
Delp said she enjoyed her time competing as a collegiate athlete, although she feels the the fact she is done competing hasn’t sunk in yet.
“It’s such an honor and privilege to compete at the collegiate level,” Delp said. “I couldn’t have been more happy with the experience. It completely exceeded my expectations.”
Now with the seniors heading out, Delp wishes her teammates the best for the future
“I would like to see the program really succeed,” Delp said. “Hillsdale has such talent.”
Prost said she will miss the seniors’ example on the team.
“I’m pretty sad to see them go, but at the same time I feel grateful to have had them as captains and have them to look up to.”
Now, Prost said the team will continue with practices to prepare themselves for next year’s fall season. As a young team with four new recruits coming in the fall, she said she is excited to see what they can do.
“We are a new team with a lot of energy and a lot of fight to bring next year.” Prost said.
