Chargers women’s tennis kicked off conference play, going undefeated on the road this weekend against Kentucky Wesleyan College and Thomas More University.
Sophomore Ané Dannhauser earned Great Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Week for her performance over the weekend, going undefeated in her four matches. The award is her third of the season and fourth of her career.
“I’m very proud of Ané for her Player of the Week accomplishment,” head coach Nikki Walbright said. “With this being the third time, I really think it shows her consistency to remain strong in this position. I am also really proud of the fact that she and Briana Rees, who she has been playing doubles with, were ranked 41st in the nation this week. This is a very tough feat to accomplish with how the ranking system works.”
Both Walbright and Dannhauser said while the award is an individual accolade, it came as a result of the team’s collective work.
On Saturday against the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, the Chargers only played three matches due to the Panthers’ lack of healthy players.
In the sole doubles matchup versus the Panthers, Dannhauser and freshman Briana Rees won 6-0.
“The weekend was a great way to start the conference season because it wasn’t the toughest competition but we still had to work for it,” Dannhauser said.
Two of Kentucky Wesleyan’s players were not on the roster, according to Dannhauser, and the Panthers lacked enough players to complete the remaining two doubles matches.
Dannhauser and Rees both took 6-0, 6-0 wins at No. 1 and No. 2 singles against the Panthers, respectively. Senior Courtney Rittel also took a 6-0, 6-0 victory at No. 3 singles.
In Sunday’s match against the Thomas More Saints, the Chargers won 4-0.
Rees and Dannhauser swept again in No. 1 doubles, winning 6-0. Rittel and senior Megan Hackman won 6-1 at No. 2 doubles. Junior Bella Spinazze and senior Libby McGivern did the same at No. 3 doubles, winning 6-1.
“I was so proud of our team on Sunday,” Spinazze said. “We played so well and had so much energy. Our doubles looked fantastic. Overall it was such a fun weekend with the team.”
In the three singles matches against the Panthers, the Chargers won in two sets.
In No. 1 singles, Dannhauser won 6-3, 6-4.
“I am really happy that I got through Sunday’s match because my opponent was really annoying to play,” Dannhauser said.
McGivern pulled off a 7-5, 7-5 victory in No. 2 singles, and Rees finished the weekend for the Chargers with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 3 singles.
“In both doubles and singles, everyone stayed intently focused on their own matches while also being an encouraging voice to the other courts around them,” Rittel said. “If we can continue to stay united with high energy and confidence on the court, I think we are going to do really well in conference this year.”
Now 8-6 on the season and 2-0 in conference play, the Chargers will face Ursuline College and Walsh University at home this weekend.
