The Hillsdale College women's tennis team saw its G-MAC Tournament run and the 2023 season come to a close on Friday afternoon in Owensboro, Kentucky, as the Chargers were unable to upset second-seeded Findlay in a 4-1 loss in the semifinal round.
In her final match as a Charger, 2023 G-MAC Player of the Year Sarah Hackman picked up a point for the Chargers with an impressive victory at No. 1 singles, pulling out a 10-8 tiebreak in the second set to beat Findlay's Elina Ivanova 6-3, 7-6 and avenge her only loss in singles play to a G-MAC opponent in the spring 2023 season. However, Hillsdale was unable to break through in its other matches against a solid Oilers squad that's expected to make the NCAA DII Tournament field as an at-large regardless of what happens in tomorrow's championship match.
Also playing in her last match for Hillsdale, senior Canela Luna put up a tough fight at No. 3 singles for the Chargers, rallying from a 6-2 first-set loss to the Oilers' Emily Hadler with a 7-5 victory in set two to force a third set. But the upset was not to be for Luna, as Hadler pulled out a 6-3 third-set victory to take the match.
With the defeat, Hillsdale finishes the season 10-9 overall, earning a winning record and reaching the G-MAC Tournament Semifinal round for the fifth-straight season in coach Liam Fraboulet's first year at the helm.
The Chargers will bid farewell to four seniors, including three stalwarts who have been a key part of Hillsdale's singles and doubles lineups for three or more seasons in Hackman, Luna and No. 6 singles player Ellie Chawner, but Hillsdale will return a solid core next season, including multi-year lineup regulars Melanie Zampardo and Libby McGivern, as well as promising sophomore Courtney Rittel who broke into the lineup this season.
Hillsdale will look to get young players to step up, and reinforce the program with incoming freshmen this offseason, with an eye towards another competitive year in 2023-24.
Photo Courtesy of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference