A campaign of uncertainty with a new coach got off to a rocky start in the 2022-23 season for the Hillsdale College women's tennis team.
But a strong finish in G-MAC play saw the team get back to the levels of success the program has been accustomed to since it restarted a decade ago, and build hope and excitement for the future.
The 2022-23 campaign started with a huge change, as new head coach Liam Fraboulet took over from a long-tenured leader in Nikki Walbright, who had been with the program since it was reinstated in the 2011 season.
With new leadership and some changes in the lineup, it took the Chargers time to build chemistry and get into a rhythm. Though there were encouraging signs early, including a run to the finals in the B Doubles draw of the ITA Midwest Regional in September by sophomore Libby McGivern and senior Ellie Chawner, Hillsdale spent most of the season trying to find the right mix to turn close losses into wins.
Everything changed at the end of March, a week into G-MAC play. Sitting with a 3-8 record, the Chargers rolled past Ursuline to snap a five-match losing streak, then got a massive confidence-boosting win over perennial G-MAC title contender Walsh, 4-3 that proved to be the turning point.
Those two victories were the start of a seven-match winning streak that clinched a winning season for the Chargers, their first full season with a winning record since 2018-19. A gutsy 5-2 victory over a strong Northwood team on Senior Day helped the Chargers earn a third-place finish in the G-MAC regular season standings, and Hillsdale picked up a 4-0 victory over Ashland in the G-MAC Tournament to reach the semifinal round for the fifth consecutive season.
The Chargers came up short in that semifinal match, a 4-1 loss to eventual G-MAC Tourney champion Findlay, but their strong closing finish to the season builds a strong foundation for future success under Fraboulet's leadership.
Hillsdale finished the season with impressive individual accolades. Senior Sarah Hackman was named the G-MAC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, joining Becky Wolf as the only two players in Hillsdale's women's tennis history to win multiple conference player of the year awards. Teammate Melanie Zampardo also earned second-team All-G-MAC honors for the second straight season, and the doubles pairing of Hackman and Zampardo spent multiple weeks ranked in the top 50 in the nation by the ITA.
The Chargers bid farewell to four decorated seniors, led by Hackman, whose career at Hillsdale ranks among the all-time greats. Hillsdale must also replace critical parts of the lineup for multiple seasons in Canela Luna and Ellie Chawner, as well as Tatum Matthews.
That said, Hillsdale does have talent returning to work with, including Zampardo and McGivern. Rising junior Courtney Rittel also played well for the Chargers in 2023 after breaking into the lineup at midseason, and Hillsdale will look for continued development from freshmen Megan Hackman and Isabella Spinazze, as well as reinforcements from its incoming freshman class this offseason.