Hillsdale’s men’s tennis team traveled to Davenport University to compete in the International Tennis Association Division II Men’s Midwest Regional Championships Sept. 28-29. 

The first day of ITAs included two rounds of singles from the main bracket and one round of singles from the consolation bracket. Freshmen Alejandro Cordero-Lopez and Samuel Plys won their matches in the first two rounds of main bracket B singles, bumping them into the quarterfinals the next day.

Freshman Ryan Papazov and sophomore Henry Hammond lost their matches in the first round of main bracket B singles but both moved on to win their next match in the first round of the consolation bracket. Papazov and Hammond advanced to the second round of consolation matches the following day. 

Hammond, who was injured during the tournament, said he kept a positive attitude throughout the competition.

On the first day, the Chargers also competed in a round of doubles matches. All three doubles teams lost their first match in the first round of the main bracket, placing them in the consolation bracket for doubles the next day. 

On day two of ITAs, Cordero-Lopez lost 3-6, 4,6, in the third round of main bracket singles to Ethan Milgan from Walsh University. 

When looking back on his performance at ITAs, Cordero-Lopez said he was overall happy with how he performed. 

“My goal in every match was to try to give my 100% and I managed to do that on my first day, winning against very good opponents,” Cordero-Lopez said. “The second day I felt like I could have played a better match, but my opponent played great. Overall a great tournament.”

In doubles, Papazov and Plys secured a 8-4 victory in the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket.

During the competition, Hammond said he was helping his teammates by giving them his insight on how to deal with nerves when competing.

“Especially after experiencing the pressure and atmosphere for the dual matches in spring, ITAs really doesn’t compare nerves wise,” Hammond said. “It all comes with experience and playing more of those matches and that’s what I was communicating to the freshman.”

The Chargers are scheduled to play at home in the Chargers Fall Invitational Oct. 5-6.

“There are going to be a couple very strong teams coming this weekend so it will be a huge challenge for us,” head coach Keith Turner said. 

Cordero-Lopez said he hopes to continue to perform the way he did at ITAs.

“The goal for the invitational is to continue playing at the level I managed to display in the ITAs, and to continue to enjoy playing for the team,” Cordero-Lopez said.