Sophomore Ané Dannhauser led the women’s tennis team with a perfect singles performance as it concluded its fall season with strong individual performances at the Charger Fall Invitational.
The invitational was held at the Biermann Center Sept. 28-29. The two-day event featured competition from Saginaw Valley State University, the University of Northwestern Ohio, and Lawrence Technological University.
Competing at the No. 1 singles position, Dannhauser posted an 8-1 victory over Lawrence Tech on Saturday, followed by an 8-6 win over Northwestern Ohio. She completed the weekend with a 6-1, 6-0 victory on Sunday against Saginaw Valley.
“It was a great weekend,” Dannhauser said. “The matches were tough, but I ended up getting out on top with all of them. The energy was good and the fall season really ended on a positive note.”
Her performance earned her recognition as Great Midwest Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week, as she finished the fall season with a 7-2 singles record. Dannhauser also partnered with freshman Briana Rees in the second round of doubles matches for a 6-2 victory against Lawrence Tech.
Freshman Julia Zlateva finished the weekend with three singles victories as well.
She won 8-1 against Lawrence Tech, 8-3 against Northwestern Ohio, and capped off her weekend with a three-set victory, 4-6, 6-3, 11-9, against Saginaw Valley. In the second and third round of doubles, Zlateva and junior Isabella Spinazze teamed up for a 6-1 victory against Lawrence Tech and a 7-6 (7) tiebreaking win against Saginaw Valley.
“I really enjoyed playing doubles with Bella this weekend,” Zlateva said.
Senior Libby McGivern added two singles wins to Hillsdale’s efforts, defeating Lawrence Tech 8-0 and winning 9-8 (3) in a tiebreaker against Northwestern Ohio. McGivern competed in doubles alongside senior Courtney Rittel, earning a 6-2 win against Lawrence Tech.
Other singles victories for Hillsdale came from Rees, who won 8-1 against Lawrence Tech, and Spinazze, who secured a 6-3, 6-0 win on Sunday against Saginaw Valley.
While Hillsdale found success in rounds two and three of doubles, the Chargers lost all three doubles matches in the first round against Northwestern Ohio.
The team is set to begin winter training ahead of their spring season kickoff, which begins Jan. 19 when they will host Michigan Technological University.
“We had another long tournament this weekend ending our fall competitive season,” Spinazze said. “We each played 3 doubles and 3 singles matches this weekend, but this tournament will give us confidence going into the spring season.”