The Hillsdale College women's tennis team wrapped up a busy fall portion of its schedule with an interesting late-October competition this weekend, playing over the course of two days at the Northwood Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
Every Charger player got at least two singles matches and two doubles matches over the course of the two-day event, playing in round-robin competition against opponents from G-MAC foe and host Northwood, as well as perennial G-MAC title contender Walsh.
Hilldale had great success in doubles, with all six of its different pairings winning at least one match on the day, and three winning multiple.
The Chargers' top doubles team of Sarah Hackman and Melanie Zampardo swept the competition at No. 1 Doubles, beating Rafaella Fulop and Iryna Trystan of Northwood 8-1 and Carla Padberg and Alexa Gamborino of Walsh 8-4 to go 2-0, while Hillsdale's #5 doubles pairing of Tatum Matthews and Courtney Rittel also went undefeated, beating a team fron Northwood 8-4 and a team from Walsh 8-5.
At No. 3 doubles, Hillsdale used three players and two team combinations but came out on top in both matches, as Ellie Chawner and Megan Hackman won a tight 9-7 match against Walsh, and Megan Hackman and Canela Luna won an 8-2 match against Northwood.
The Chargers' No. 4 doubles team of Helana Formentin and Isabella Spinaze went 2-1, with a 8-6 win over a team from Walsh and a 8-2 win over a team from Northwood, while Hillsdale's No. 2 doubles team of Chawner and Libby McGivern split its matches with an 8-6 victory over Walsh.
In singles action, four Charger players picked up multiple wins. At No. 3 singles, Zampardo split her matches, with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Padberg of Walsh, and also took a 7-5, 6-1 win over Regan Fales of Northwood in a Saturday crossover match to finish 2-1 for the weekend. Chawner also went 2-1 for the Chargers at No. 5 singles, winning 6-3, 6-2 over Trystan of Northwood and taking a Saturday crossover match 6-3, 6-3 over Chiaea Wolff of Walsh.
Formentin also went 2-1 for the Chargers in singles, beating Northwood's Sopha Baker 6-0, 6-2, and Campbell Kallio of Northwood in a tight 6-2, 3-6, 10-3 victory, while Rittel won both of her singles matches for Hillsdale, beating Rachel Kibler of Walsh 7-6, 6-3 and Baker of Northwood 6-0, 6-2. Isabella Spinazze also picked up two singles wins for the Chargers, beating Walsh's Rachel Kibler 3-6, 6-0, 10-3 and Kallio of Northwood 6-3, 6-1.
Sarah Hackman also picked up a win at No. 1 singles for the Chargers, beating Rafaella Fulop of Northwood 6-4, 6-2, while Julia Wagner and Tatum Matthews each won once in singles for Hillsdale. Wagner beat Baker of Northwood 6-0, 6-2 and Matthews also beat Baker of Northwood 6-2, 6-4.
The Chargers now head into the winter break with a chance to rest and keep training as it builds toward championship season in the spring. Hillsdale will have its next match on Feb. 5 at home against Davenport.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan