The Hillsdale College women's tennis team's journey to a third-consecutive G-MAC tournament title was much less of a sure thing than the two previous runs.
In 2018 and 2019, the Chargers had entered the tournament as the top seed and overwhelming favorites, rolling to the title with ease. In 2021, Hillsdale entered the tournament as the lowest seed in the field, with regular season losses to all three potential opponents. Despite the different circumstances, in the end, the Chargers reached the same destination, downing Findlay 4-2 in the G-MAC tournament final on Saturday in Owensboro, Kentucky.
One of the defining traits of Hillsdale's two years of G-MAC dominance was an ability to ruthlessly close out sets and matches when it counted most. That trait had been lacking for the Chargers this season, as Hillsdale lost four 4-3 matches in the regular season that could have gone their way. In Owensboro, however, the Chargers recaptured the old magic, first in an upset of top-seeded Tiffin in the semifinal on Friday, and then in the win over Findlay.
That clutch finishing ability evidenced itself early against the Oilers, as Hillsdale used a comeback and tiebreak victory at No. 1 doubles from senior Hannah Cimpeanu and junior Sarah Hackman to clinch the doubles point, 7-6 (2). The pair seized control in the tiebreak, running away with what had been a back-and-forth match entering the tiebreak. Sophomore Canela Luna and junior Sophia Spinazze also pulled out a hard-fought 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles as well to help the Chargers secure the doubles point.
An early lead in hand, the four players who helped Hillsdale get that early advantage carried the Chargers through a tight singles battle with Findlay. Luna came out on top in a hard-fought, heated match with Findlay's Cristina Nieto Soto at No. 3 singles, 6-0, 7-6 (4), rallying from down a break in the second set to force a tiebreak and take the match.
Spinazze, meanwhile, showed equal grit her match at No. 4 singles against the Oilers' Sammy Sweet, rallying from a difficult 0-6 loss in the first set to win 6-2, 6-3 and secure the title-clinching point.
Hackman also won for the Chargers, rolling past Luciana Pereya, 6-1, 6-2 at No. 2 singles in an important match, and while Cimpeanu didn't get to finish her match at No. 1 singles before the Chargers clinched the title, she was up 4-2 on G-MAC Player of the Year Laiying Alvarado in the third and deciding set with a good chance of securing a fifth point for Hillsdale.
The title is a gratifying one for the Chargers, who struggled with injuries and cancelled matches all season long and were just 2-3 in G-MAC play entering the tournament. It's an especially sweet capper for Cimpeanu, the lone senior in Hillsdale's tournament lineup, who graduates as a three-time G-MAC Champion and a three-time first-team All-G-MAC player.
Hillsdale now awaits the announcement of the NCAA Division II tournament field on May 4. Whether or not the Chargers are selected to continue playing, Hillsdale's magical weekend in Owensboro is a moment that will be sweet for the program for years to come.
Photo Courtesy of Kentucky Wesleyan Athletics