The Hillsdale College women's tennis team swept Ferris State 7-0 at the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center Sunday afternoon in a regional matchup. The win pushes Hillsdale to 2-0 on the young season.
The energy was high on both teams going into the start of the doubles matches, each showing early fire. After a loss at the number one doubles spot, No. 2 doubles pair Sarah Hackman and Hannah Cimpeanu battled to win their doubles match 6-1. With the doubles round tied at 1-1, it all came down to the No. 3 doubles match. Senior Madeline Bissett and junior Kamryn Matthews didn't give up the fight as they were neck and neck and always one break up from their opponents. The pair came out on top after a nailbiting match to win 7-5, putting Hillsdale in the lead 1-0 overall going into the singles.
The focus was high during the teams five minute break between doubles and singles, and were extremely motivated to play their matches. The Chargers quickly took a second win at the No. 1 singles position 6-2, 6-2 by Cimpeanu. Senior Halle Hyman was not far behind her teammate as she secured yet another point for the Chargers at the No. 4 position winning 6-2 in the first and battling to win 7-5 in the second.
However, the match was not over as the No. 2 singles position freshman Sarah Hackman blew through her first set with ease winning 6-2, but her opponent put up a fight in the second as she took it 6-1, sending the match into a third set. Right after Hackman started her third set, her neighboring teammate at the No. 3 singles position senior Katie Bell, was also going into a third set. Bell struggled to get her grip and the first set losing 6-1, but battled back after switching up her game plan to take the marathon second set 7-6, 7-5, sending her match into a third set as well.
Back on the second court, Hackman showed her true mental toughness as she instantly swayed the match back in her direction, and was able to hold her serve and break her opponents serve at the end of the third set to win 6-4, officially clenching the win for the Chargers with four wins. Bell continued to fight as her third set was never one-sided. Both players we're holding or breaking each other the entire match, but Bell was able to push through for her teammates to come up with yet another win for the Chargers 6-3.
With those four matches completed, Matthews and Bissett went onto the open courts to start their matches, ready to follow in their teammates footsteps. Though Matthews' opponent at the No. 5 position proved to be a very strong and steady player, she made minimal unforced errors and sailed to a quick victory 6-1, 6-0.
WORDS: Megan Miller
PHOTO: Victoria Addis