During Parent’s Weekend at Hillsdale College, the Chargers will have two home matches on Friday and Sunday, respectively. They seek to remain undefeated after a hot 3-0 start to the season in February.
The Chargers will play the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars on Friday, and the Purdue University Northwest Pride on Sunday. It will be their first two-match weekend of the season, and the rest of the season will feature two-match weekends until the G-MAC Championship.
“We really need to start working on our endurance in match play to make sure we have success with the hard matches ahead,” head coach Nikki Walbright said. “This weekend will be a good challenge and an excellent start to the second half of our season.”
The Chargers have worked hard to improve at doubles this week in practice, according to Walbright. The team has been weakest in doubles to this point in the season, dropping two of three games last weekend against Lewis University, and one of three against Ferris University the week prior with a close 7-5 match.
After acing her opponent 6-0, 6-0 and joining sophomore Kamryn Matthews to win their doubles match 6-2 last week at Lewis, senior Madeline Bissett won the G-MAC Player of the Week award. She is the second Hillsdale player to receive the award this season after sophomore Hannah Cimpeanu received the honor two weeks ago.
“It’s been great for the girls to be recognized for their efforts,” Walbright said.
But Matthews and Cimpeanu aren’t the only players who’ve enjoyed big wins this season. Freshman Sarah Hackman is undefeated in singles play on the no. 2 court, and her matches have often been tough fights. On the no. 3 court, junior Katie Bell also is undefeated with a couple long matches behind her.
“The whole team is really playing well so I hope everybody is able to contribute this weekend,” Walbright said. “It will be solid competition so it will be fun to see who rises up for a great weekend.”
