What a match for the Hillsdale College women's tennis team!
The Chargers won their third straight, in dramatic fashion, 5-4 over visiting Wayne State University Friday night at the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center. Hillsdale is now 5-4 on the season.
The Warriors came into the match ranked 45th in NCAA Division II and have long had a reputation as one of the Midwest Region's top programs. But that didn't deter a gritty Charger outfit, who battled the Warriors tough right down to the night's final match.
That match saw sophomore Kamryn Matthews score a 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles, clinching the victory for Hillsdale. Her third set lasted nearly an hour and saw one marathon point contested after another. But she kept grinding and won a huge match not only for herself, but for her rapidly improving team.
Matthews' win was just one part of a terrific performance by Hillsdale's singles players in the middle flights. Freshman Hannah Cimpeanu, competing against Wayne State for the first time in her career, earned a 6-1, 7-5 win at No. 3 singles, giving Hillsdale another huge win.
Junior Madeline Bissett has been playing the best tennis of her career over the past few weeks and didn't slow down at all in picking up two wins Friday. She was a 6-3, 6-2 winner at No. 6 singles, and teamed up with Matthews for an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles.
Cimpeanu and junior Halle Hyman also notched an 8-4 win at No. 2 singles. Those wins helped put Hillsdale ahead 2-1 entering singles play.