Senior Helana Formentin played in the doubles B flight. Courtesy | Isabella Sheehan
The Hillsdale women’s tennis team competed in the ITA Division II Women’s Midwest Regional, a three-day tournament hosted by the University of Indianapolis Sept. 16 -18.
Sophomore Megan Hackman and senior Melanie Zampardo started doubles play in the top level of competition — or the A flight — by clinching a 6-2 victory against Purdue University Northwest.
Senior Helana Formentin and sophomore Isabella Spinazze, competing in the B flight, faced Ferris State University but finished with a 6-2 loss.
Freshman Ane Dannhauser and junior Elizabeth McGivern also played in the doubles B flight, but lost 6-3 to Ferris State.
Junior Courtney Rittel and senior Julia Wagner secured a 7-4 tiebreaking victory against a second-seeded team from Rockhurst University in the consolation bracket of the B draw, but were ultimately defeated 6-4 by the eighth-seeded team from Saginaw Valley State University in the quarterfinals.
In her debut appearance in the top bracket at the ITA Midwest Regional, Dannhauser pulled a clear win in a singles match against Rockhurst on Saturday with set scores of 6-2 and 6-1. Nevertheless, she met her match on Sunday in round 32 against a competitor from Drury University, losing 3-6, 4-6.
Dannhauser said the overall experience was positive for her, and she was proud of her growth.
“My first ITA experience was a bit nerve wracking,” Dannhauser said, “but as soon as the nerves faded, I managed to just play some good tennis and enjoy it.”
Zampardo also competed in the A flight but fell in straight sets of 4-6, 4-6 to a tough opponent from Ferris State.
In the B flight for singles play, McGivern defeated Saginaw Valley State with the match ending in a tie breaking score of 3-7,7-6, (7-2). McGivern proceeded to take on a player from Purdue University Northwest and finish the match with a 6-3, 6-2 loss for the Chargers.
Other notable matches included Formentin’s narrow 6-7, 5-7, 0-6 defeat by Saginaw Valley State and Hackman’s tiebreaker loss to an opponent from G-MAC rival Walsh University. Wagner won 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 against Quincy University, and endured a closely contested match ending in a 5-7, 6-3, 6-10 loss to Southwest Baptist University.
According to Dannhauser, the Chargers have lots of potential to do well in the rest of the season.
“We’re just going to work hard and improve as we go,” Dannhauser said.
The Chargers will return to its home courts Oct. 7 -8 when Hillsdale holds its annual Chargers Fall Invitational, marking the conclusion of their 2023 fall season.
“It was a very successful weekend,” Dannhauser said. “We had some very good wins and some tight losses. The team overall is really starting to get into match play so we will definitely be ready for the next tournament.”
