The Hillsdale College men's tennis team got off to a fast start in doubles in its first match of the spring on Saturday at home, but couldn't hold off visiting Purdue Northwest in singles in a 4-1 defeat.
The Chargers started the match by seizing the doubles point in emphatic fashion, taking home victories in all three doubles flights. The Chargers' top pairing of senior Sean Barstow and sophomore Aidan Pack won 6-3 at No. 1 doubles over their Purdue Northwest counterparts, while senior Tyler Conrad and freshman Ellis Klanduch won 6-4 at No. 2 doubles. Hillsdale's Daniel Gilbert, a senior, and Henry Hammond, a freshman completed the sweep at No. 3 doubles with a 6-2 victory as well.
Taking a 1-0 lead into singles play, Hillsdale found itself on the wrong end of close matches as Purdue Northwest won each of the first four flights to score enough points to clinch the match. Klanduch came the closest to picking up a win for the Chargers at No. 4 singles, taking the first set 6-1 before falling 5-7, 4-6 to the Pride's Dani Chicano Melero. Conrad and Barstow each also played tight matches at No. 1 and No. 3 singles respectively for the Chargers.
Although his match was left unfinished after Purdue Northwest clinched the victory, Gilbert also had a 3-1 lead in his No. 6 singles match as well when his contest was called.
Hillsdale is now 0-1 overall and will hit the road tomorrow, Sunday, to the MVP Sportsplex in Grand Rapids, looking to bounce back with a morning match against Davenport at 9:15 a.m.
Photo by Hope Canlas