When the Hillsdale College men's tennis team hosts Walsh University next Sunday, it will be with the top seed in the G-MAC tourney on the line.
The Chargers made sure of that on Sunday, picking up a huge 4-1 victory at home over a Tiffin squad looking to reinsert itself in the title race with an upset win.
Against a tough opponent, Hillsdale delivered up and down the lineup to get the job done. The Chargers won all three doubles matches to secure the doubles point, led by the No. 1 doubles team of Tyler Conrad and Sean Barstow, who won 6-4. Hillsdale's No. 2 doubles team of Brennan Cimpeanu and Gabe Katz earned a 6-2 victory as well, and the Chargers' No. 3 doubles team of Brian Hackman and Daniel Gilbert earned a 6-4 victory.
In singles play, the Chargers gutted out three hard-fought wins to seal the match. Conrad continued his strong performance at No. 1 singles so far this season, rallying from a 4-6 first-set loss to win 6-2, 6-2 over Nair Adi of Tiffin, and Cimpeanu also came from behind to win at No. 2 singles, beating the Dragons' Michael Gurtner 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.
Hackman continued the comeback theme on the day for Hillsdale to win at No. 3 singles and clinch the match, beating Joe Gilman of Tiffin 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 for the victory.
Now 11-2 overall and 3-0 in the G-MAC, the Chargers wrap up regular season play next week. The showdown with Walsh on the 18th looms, but the Chargers can't get caught looking ahead. First Hillsdale must get past Cedarville on the road on April 15 at noon to set up a winner-takes-all match against the Cavaliers.
Photo by Anthony Lupi