The Hillsdale College women's tennis team picked up its first dual match victory of the 2023 season at home on Sunday, taking down a solid Davenport squad in impressive fashion in a 6-1 match.
The Chargers started the match by taking a hard-fought doubles point, thanks in part to a dominant showing at No. 2 doubles by sophomore Libby McGivern and senior Ellie Chawner, who beat their Davenport opponent without dropping a game, 6-0. Hillsdale's No. 3 doubles team of Canela Luna and Megan Hackman also won a 6-3 decision to secure the doubles point and a 1-0 lead in the match.
With the doubles point in hand, Hillsdale reeled off singles victories at the first four positions to clinch the match early. At No. 1 singles, defending G-MAC Player of the Year Sarah Hackman showed her quality with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win over Amy Bloch of Davenport, and at No. 2 singles, junior Melanie Zampardo rallied from deficits in both the first and second sets to beat Davenport's Skye Vandeleur 6-4, 6-4.
At No. 3 singles, Luna won a marathon match against Davenport's Willemien Coetzee, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, coming back from multiple deficits in the third and deciding set, while McGivern also completed an undefeated day with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Hermon Mikael at No. 4 singles as well for the Chargers.
Freshman Megan Hackman rounded out Hillsdale's winners at No. 6 singles, taking a 6-4, 6-3 decision over Louise Hosking of Davenport as well.
The Chargers are now 1-1 on the season with a victory over a quality Midwest Region foe. Hillsdale will be back in action with two more home matches against key Midwest Region opponents this coming weekend, including GLIAC powerhouse Ferris State on Friday at 10 a.m. for the Chargers' next match.