Junior Ane Dannhauser playing at the Chargers Fall Invite Sept. 20
Courtesy | Hillsdale Charger Athletic Department

The Hillsdale women’s tennis team won 15 of their 39 matches at the Chargers Fall Invitational Sept. 19-20. The Hillsdale players battled against competitors from the University of Findlay, Walsh University, and Wayne State University. 

Both junior Ane Dannhauser and sophomore Briana Rees made the semifinals of the A singles bracket. Rees fell to Malak Arafat of Wayne State in her semifinal match, while Dannhauser continued to the bracket’s championship before losing the match after three intense sets. 

Both Chargers in the B singles bracket won a match in the consolation bracket, with freshman Dimitra Papastavrou beating her competitor from Walsh University in two sets while sophomore Julia Zlateva defeated her opponent from Walsh University after winning 10-8 in their intense third set. 

Freshman Esther Sura took third place in the C singles bracket, and senior Megan Hackman took third in the D singles bracket after defeating one player from Wayne State and another from Findlay University. Hackman said that this first chance playing conference teams has made her excited for the spring. 

“Everyone is adjusting well and the team is looking good,” Hackman said. “We are excited for the spring and I think we will have a strong season, especially with our new freshmen.” 

Sophomore Emma Palus won the D bracket consolation title, beating one player from Wayne State and another from Walsh University. 

In the A doubles bracket, Dannhauser and Rees finished in fourth place, defeating a team from Walsh State. Meanwhile, Palus and Sura scored a 6-4 win in the B bracket against another Walsh team. 

“We did better at this invitational than at the previous one,” Palus said. “It’s tennis, so someone will always win and someone will always lose, but we need to push ourselves for this next competition.” 

The Chargers’ next competition will be the ITA Midwest Regional in Caledonia, Michigan, Oct. 4-6.  At this event, the top Division II teams from the Midwest will be competing for regional titles and a spot in the ITA Cup, the NCAA Division II singles and doubles national championship, which will take place Oct. 16-19 in Rome, Georgia. 

“We just need to work on getting our stamina up,” senior Bella Spinazze said. “Fortunately we will have three days of matches in two weekends. They will help get our physical and mental stamina up to where it needs to be before the start of the spring season.”