For the first time ever, Hillsdale College defeated Ferris State University in women’s tennis on Saturday.
For six years in the GLIAC, the Chargers were unable to overcome the Bulldogs. But in their first year in the G-MAC, which ranked them No. 1, the Chargers stepped up their game in Big Rapids, Michigan, with an 8-1 win in the nonconference game, as the women swept their singles matches. Hillsdale is now 2-2 this season.
“Specifically, we knew they were going to be tough,” head coach Nikki Walbright told The Collegian. “We didn’t walk over them. It was a very difficult match, and it didn’t feel like an 8-1 victory. We’ve been working really hard, and it’s nice to see that work pay off.”
With Hillsdale making history, it’s no surprise then that the G-MAC named a Charger woman the Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Junior Halle Hyman received the honor Tuesday afternoon from the conference office.
“It’s very exciting to see Hillsdale’s program beat an opponent it is so familiar with — for the first time in six years,” Ben Schlesselman, the G-MAC’s assistant commissioner for strategic communication, said in an email. “There were a number of student-athletes deserving of weekly conference honors, but Halle’s strong track record the past two seasons as GLIAC Freshman of the Year and an all-conference honoree have validated her as among the league’s best already in 2017-18.”
A top player since stepping on campus, Hyman is off to a strong start her third year in college. On Friday, the undefeated doubles player this season picked up her fourth straight win at No. 2 8-4 with freshman Hannah Cimpeanu, who was last week’s G-MAC honoree.
“I am very happy with our win against Ferris,” Hyman said in an email. “Everyone played so well, and it was nice to see all of our hard work come together to earn a great win.”
Hyman also conquered at No. 3 singles, winning 7-6, 6-4 against junior Nicole Meylor. The victories give her a 15-8 record in singles for the past two seasons, marking her as one reason Hillsdale ranks No. 1, according to Schlesselman.
While Hyman is showing an impressive year thus far, Walbright said all her players had strong performances on Saturday.
“Everybody had a great win,” Walbright said. “They were all really supportive, and we had a great vibe. You could just feel the energy on the court.”
Sophomore Kamryn Matthews swept all of her matches. Teamed with junior Madeline Bissett at No. 2 doubles, the women won 8-0. Matthews kept the streak going at No. 5 singles, winning 6-0, 6-0. Bissett almost twinned her teammates’ sweep, winning 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
“Mads and I got on a role, and we just never really stopped from there,” Matthews said.
Completing the Chargers’ uncommon singles sweep, Cimpeanu won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 and junior Corinne Prost won 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Katie Bell alone faced a tie-breaking round at No. 1, eventually defeating her opponent 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The Bulldogs’ took their lone point from Bell and Prost at No. 1 doubles in a close 8-6 match.
The players said the team maintained their high energy throughout the game and avoided adapting to Ferris State’s slower gameplay.
“You have your own game you like to play, but your opponents are going to be playing different games,” Matthew said. “I think we did a really good job of staying level-headed and not stirring too far away from our own games.”
Coming off the historic win, the women are taking a lighter week of training heading into spring break. Walbright said she is looking stretch the women during the week away from classes, as they compete against some stiff D-II competition absent in the Midwest, including Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, the No. 1 ranked team in D-II athletics. The Chargers also will face Keiser University as well as Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Spring break is definitely an opportunity to go get exposure and compete at a really high level,” Walbright said. “It’s kind of fun knowing we get to see what we strive for and learn our best from that.”
Walbright said even though Hillsdale is ranked No. 1 in the conference by G-MAC head coaches, that is just another reason to work even harder.
“We’re really excited that we have been given the platform, but there’s kind of a pressure, because we definitely want to live up to it,” Walbright said. “It gives us some confidence in being recognized that we’re a strong time, but to further our goals, we’re working extra hard.”
The Ferris State win is just an early recognition of that, she said.
“It’s a result of how hard the girls are working,” Walbright said, “and what is to come.”
For the first time ever, Hillsdale College defeated Ferris State University in women’s tennis on Saturday.
For six years in the GLIAC, the Chargers were unable to overcome the Bulldogs. But in their first year in the G-MAC, which ranked them No. 1, the Chargers stepped up their game in Big Rapids, Michigan, with an 8-1 win in the nonconference game, as the women swept their singles matches. Hillsdale is now 2-2 this season.
“Specifically, we knew they were going to be tough,” head coach Nikki Walbright told The Collegian. “We didn’t walk over them. It was a very difficult match, and it didn’t feel like an 8-1 victory. We’ve been working really hard, and it’s nice to see that work pay off.”
With Hillsdale making history, it’s no surprise then that the G-MAC named a Charger woman the Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Junior Halle Hyman received the honor Tuesday afternoon from the conference office.
“It’s very exciting to see Hillsdale’s program beat an opponent it is so familiar with — for the first time in six years,” Ben Schlesselman, the G-MAC’s assistant commissioner for strategic communication, said in an email. “There were a number of student-athletes deserving of weekly conference honors, but Halle’s strong track record the past two seasons as GLIAC Freshman of the Year and an all-conference honoree have validated her as among the league’s best already in 2017-18.”
A top player since stepping on campus, Hyman is off to a strong start her third year in college. On Friday, the undefeated doubles player this season picked up her fourth straight win at No. 2 8-4 with freshman Hannah Cimpeanu, who was last week’s G-MAC honoree.
“I am very happy with our win against Ferris,” Hyman said in an email. “Everyone played so well, and it was nice to see all of our hard work come together to earn a great win.”
Hyman also conquered at No. 3 singles, winning 7-6, 6-4 against junior Nicole Meylor. The victories give her a 15-8 record in singles for the past two seasons, marking her as one reason Hillsdale ranks No. 1, according to Schlesselman.
While Hyman is showing an impressive year thus far, Walbright said all her players had strong performances on Saturday.
“Everybody had a great win,” Walbright said. “They were all really supportive, and we had a great vibe. You could just feel the energy on the court.”
Sophomore Kamryn Matthews swept all of her matches. Teamed with junior Madeline Bissett at No. 2 doubles, the women won 8-0. Matthews kept the streak going at No. 5 singles, winning 6-0, 6-0. Bissett almost twinned her teammates’ sweep, winning 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
“Mads and I got on a role, and we just never really stopped from there,” Matthews said.
Completing the Chargers’ uncommon singles sweep, Cimpeanu won 6-3, 6-4 at No. 2 and junior Corinne Prost won 6-1, 6-3. Sophomore Katie Bell alone faced a tie-breaking round at No. 1, eventually defeating her opponent 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.
The Bulldogs’ took their lone point from Bell and Prost at No. 1 doubles in a close 8-6 match.
The players said the team maintained their high energy throughout the game and avoided adapting to Ferris State’s slower gameplay.
“You have your own game you like to play, but your opponents are going to be playing different games,” Matthew said. “I think we did a really good job of staying level-headed and not stirring too far away from our own games.”
Coming off the historic win, the women are taking a lighter week of training heading into spring break. Walbright said she is looking stretch the women during the week away from classes, as they compete against some stiff D-II competition absent in the Midwest, including Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, the No. 1 ranked team in D-II athletics. The Chargers also will face Keiser University as well as Broward College in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“Spring break is definitely an opportunity to go get exposure and compete at a really high level,” Walbright said. “It’s kind of fun knowing we get to see what we strive for and learn our best from that.”
Walbright said even though Hillsdale is ranked No. 1 in the conference by G-MAC head coaches, that is just another reason to work even harder.
“We’re really excited that we have been given the platform, but there’s kind of a pressure, because we definitely want to live up to it,” Walbright said. “It gives us some confidence in being recognized that we’re a strong time, but to further our goals, we’re working extra hard.”
The Ferris State win is just an early recognition of that, she said.
“It’s a result of how hard the girls are working,” Walbright said, “and what is to come.”
