The Hillsdale College women's tennis team moved another step closer to locking up a G-MAC tournament berth in its final home match of the season on Saturday.
The Chargers took down Cedarville, 7-0, in a contest played at the Biermann Athletic Center to improve to 3-0 in G-MAC play.
Playing in her final home match as a Charger, senior Sophia Spinazze shone, pulling out a 6-1 victory with partner Canela Luna over Cedarville's team at No. 2 doubles, and winning 6-1, 6-1 over Cedarville's Jessica Spry at No. 5 singles. It's a fitting final showing for Spinazze, who's been an important part of three G-MAC Championship winners and three NCAA Tournament-qualifying teams in her four seasons here.
Hillsdale also got a strong showing from Sarah Hackman and Melanie Zampardo, who teamed up at No. 1 doubles for a 6-1 victory over Cedarville, and also won their singles matches in straight sets. Hackman beat Cedarville's Lauren Hollis 6-2, 7-5 at No. 1 singles, and Zampardo pulled out a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Payton Krahn of the Yellow Jackets at No. 3 singles.
At No. 2 singles, freshman Libby McGivern won a hard-fought 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 battle with Cedarville's Abby Totten, and also teamed with Ellie Chawner to win 6-0 at No. 3 doubles. Luna beat Faith Triplett 6-0, 6-0 at No. 4 singles and Chawner beat Joelle Petek 6-1, 6-0 at No. 6 singles as well to wrap up an undefeated day for the Chargers.
Hillsdale (7-6, 3-0 G-MAC) sits atop the standings currently in conference play, but has tough matches ahead on the road against title contenders Tiffin, Findlay and Walsh, all of whom are right behind the Chargers with one loss on the season. The Chargers begin the gauntlet next Saturday, April 9 with a trip to Tiffin to play the Dragons.
Photo by Gwen Buchhop
