On a sunny day in Owensboro, Kentucky, the third-seeded Hillsdale College women's tennis team got its G-MAC Tournament run off to a strong start with a 4-0 victory over Ashland.
The Chargers made quick work of the Eagles, who were shorthanded due to injuries in the match, and defaulted victories to the Chargers at both No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. With one doubles match already in hand, Hillsdale's No. 1 doubles team of Sarah Hackman and Melanie Zampardo took a 6-2 victory over Ashland's top doubles pairing to secure the doubles point and a 2-0 lead in the match.
In singles play, Hackman, who was announced earlier in the day as the G-MAC's Women's Tennis Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, showed why in a comprehensive 6-3, 6-3 victory over Ashland's Ana Penteado at No. 1 singles to move Hillsdale to one win away from clinching.
It was at No. 5 singles where Hillsdale finished off the match. No. 5 singles player Courtney Rittel rolled past Ally Stoehr of Ashland 6-1, 6-1 to clinch the victory and advance the Chargers to the semifinals.
Hillsdale is now 10-8 overall with the victory, and is ensured of a winning season in head coach Liam Fraboulet's first campaign with the Chargers. Next up is a semifinal rematch with second-seeded Findlay tomorrow, Friday, at 10 a.m. in Owensboro. The Oilers knocked Hillsdale out of the postseason in a tight 4-3 match in the 2022 G-MAC Tournament and won a 5-0 victory over the Chargers earlier this season on March 19, though Hillsdale did win a doubles match and was competitive throughout the flights.
An upset victory would give the Chargers a berth in the G-MAC Tournament Championship Match on Saturday at 11 a.m., against the winner of the other semifinal between top-seeded Tiffin and fourth-seeded Northwood. The Timberwolves advanced to face the Dragons with a 4-0 win over fifth seeded Walsh, also on Thursday.
Photo Courtesy of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference