The Hillsdale College men's tennis team headed to Florida this week with the express mission of playing the toughest competition it could find and getting better.
A 4-0 loss to 18th-ranked Florida Southern, while maybe not pretty on the scoreboard, serves the purpose.
Playing its toughest opponent to date this season, Hillsdale battled but came up short against the Moccasins.
Florida Southern seized control early, pulling out a 6-1 win at No. 3 doubles and a tighter 6-4 win at No. 2 doubles to secure the doubles point, though Hillsdale's No. 1 doubles pairing of Ivanhoe Lissanevitch and Charlie Adams were in a tight 5-4 match at the time.
In singles matches, Adams had a 5-4 lead in the second set of the No. 1 singles match and was on the verge of forcing a third set, while Lissanevitch was close to closing out a win at No. 2 singles, up 6-3, 4-3, but losses by the Chargers at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5 singles clinched the match for Florida Southern.
Even in those losses, Michael Szabo fell just 7-5 in the second set at No. 3 singles for Hillsdale, and Brian Hackman had a narrow 7-5 loss in the first set at No. 4 singles.
Hillsdale, now 6-2 overall, can take confidence from hanging with a ranked squad in a match that was closer than the score indicated. The Chargers will look to continue their strong play against another tough opponent on Thursday, Southeastern, as Hillsdale's Florida trip continues.
Photo: Brad Monastiere