Freshman Ane Dannhauser is having a big impact for the Hillsdale College women's tennis team early on in her career with the Chargers.
Dannhauser recently began playing consistently in the No. 1 singles spot for Hillsdale, and her play is drawing attention -- such that she has been named the Women's Tennis Player of the Week by the Great Midwest Athletic Conference this Monday afternoon. It's Dannhauser's first-ever weekly conference honor.
The freshman from South Africa got the award for a 3-1 week that included back-to-back wins at No. 1 singles for the Chargers. Dannhauser was undefeated for Hillsdale in a 4-3 loss at Ferris State on Sunday, winning at No. 2 doubles 7-5 with partner Courtney Rittel to help Hillsdale secure the doubles point, and defeating Ferris State's Ana Sofia Hernandez Ferrer in a marathon match at No. 1 singles, rallying from a 6-1 first-set loss to take a third-set tiebreak and earn the win. That was on the heels of another win at No. 1 singles for Hillsdale on Saturday in the Chargers' 4-1 win over Lake Superior State, as Dannhauser beat the Lakers' Tayla Brasier 6-1, 6-4.
Dannhauser has been strong for Hillsdale in her first season, playing well in the ITA Midwest Regional in the fall and becoming a fixture near the top of the Chargers' lineup throughout the spring. She and Hillsdale will play two matches this weekend, travelling to nationally-ranked Wayne State for a contest on March 1 before returning home to face Saginaw Valley State the next day, March 2.
Photo by Isabella Sheehan