The Hillsdale College women's tennis team kept rolling with its fifth-straight victory on Saturday at home, beating visiting Ashland 5-2 to set up a big final week in G-MAC play.
The Chargers took a critical doubles point thanks to wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to give themselves a 1-0 edge in the match. Partners Libby McGivern and Ellie Chawner took a hard-fought 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles for Hillsdale, and the Chargers' No. 3 doubles team of Megan Hackman and Canela Luna took a 6-0 victory to clinch the point.
That give Hillsdale momentum heading into singles, and the Chargers' senior class led the way to secure a critical win. Senior Sarah Hackman pulled out a huge victory at No. 1 singles, rallying from a 6-3 first set loss to beat Ashland's Ana Penteado 6-4, 6-1, and Luna, also a senior, took a 6-1, 6-2 victory over the Eagles Anna Corbel at No. 3 singles.
Hillsdale clinched the match in the fifth and sixth flights. Chawner, one of the Chargers' four seniors, rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Ashland's Alley Stoehr to score the clinching point at No. 6 singles, while sophomore Courtney Rittel also took a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles for the Chargers over Ashland's Kortney Reed.
The Chargers are now 8-7 overall, 5-1 in G-MAC play and have a showdown next Saturday at home in the team's regular season finale against Northwood, with the winner taking the third seed in the upcoming G-MAC Tournament. It's also senior day for Hillsdale, where the Chargers will honor graduating players Sarah Hackman, Canela Luna, Ellie Chawner and Tatum Matthews.
Photo by Regan Meyer