There's no denying the Hillsdale College men's tennis team's talent.
But what's separated the Chargers from the competition this season is its will as much as its skill, as Hillsdale showed in a gutsy 4-3 victory over Tiffin in Saturday's G-MAC Tournament final, a win that locked up the Chargers' second G-MAC title in the past three tournaments.
Hillsdale won critical tiebreaks at both No. 3 and No. 5 singles to secure the victory over the Dragons by the slimmest of possible margins. It's a familiar story for the Chargers, who are 4-2 in matches decided by one point or less this season, and who have come up big at crucial junctures throughout the year on the way to a 15-2 mark and G-MAC regular season and conference titles.
Despite a young lineup that includes just three players with collegiate tennis experience prior to this season, and just one senior, the Chargers have played their best tennis when the pressure's on and the whole match is at stake -- showing a level of mental fortitude that belies their age at most positions.
That includes three freshman starters, all of whom came up big against the Dragons. Charger freshman Sean Barstow teamed with sophomore Tyler Conrad at No. 1 doubles to earn a 6-4 victory that, along with a 6-3 win at No. 3 doubles by junior Brian Hackman and freshman Daniel Gilbert, helped Hillsdale secure a critical doubles point.
In singles play, freshman Brennan Cimpeanu continued an unbelievable maiden season at Hillsdale, running his record at No. 2 singles to 15-0 with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Tiffin's Nair Adi.
But the biggest star turn came from Gilbert at No. 5 singles. The freshman from Fort Wayne, Indiana has flown under the radar at times this season, but with the match tied 3-3 and Hillsdale's title hopes hinging on him rallying from a third set deficit against Tiffin's Matthew Telford, Gilbert mustered the confidence and determination of a veteran senior, rallying to force a tiebreak and outlasting Telford to deliver the tournament title for the Chargers in a 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 victory.
Hackman also picked up a critical win in a tight match at No. 3 singles, outlasting the Dragons' Joe Gilman in a tiebreak of his own in the second set for a 7-6, 7-5 victory.
A championship season seemed unlikely at the start of the year, with four players either graduated from the year prior or injured for the season, but the Chargers quickly showed they were better than anyone expected, with all six players contributing to both regular season and conference crowns.
At 15-2 and with the conference title, Hillsdale is a virtual lock to be part of the NCAA Division II tournament field for the first time in program history. The Chargers will be watching to see their tournament fate when the NCAA field is announced on May 4.
Photo courtesy of Kentucky Wesleyan Athletics