The Hillsdale College women's tennis team saw a three-match winning streak in G-MAC play come to an end on Saturday, as host Tiffin handed the Chargers their first conference loss of the season in a 4-0 setback.
While Hillsdale failed to score a point against the Dragons, it wasn't for lack of fight, as several matches were close and competitive in a contest that was closer than the score indicates.
The Charger battled in all three doubles flights before conceding the point to Tiffin, who entered the match ranked 33rd in NCAA Division II in the most recent ITA poll. Hillsdale's No. 3 doubles team of freshman Libby McGivern and junior Ellie Chawner forced a tiebreak before falling 7-6 to the team from Tiffin in Hillsdale's closest match. The Chargers' Sarah Hackman and Melanie Zampardo also took a hard-fought 6-4 loss at No. 1 doubles as well.
In singles play, Hackman battled back from a 6-1 first-set loss to Tiffin's Emily Barrett to nearly force a third set, but came up just short in a 7-5 defeat at No. 1 singles. Zampardo also fought hard for Hillsdale at No. 3 singles, falling by slim margins to the Dragons' Emily Young in a 7-6, 6-4 defeat.
The Chargers are now 7-7 overall, 3-1 in G-MAC play, and will look to bounce back on Sunday with another crucial match at Findlay, who's ranked 32nd in Division II in the most recent ITA poll. Hillsdale can still claim a share of the G-MAC regular season title if it wins out, though it won't be an easy path with a tough Oilers squad up next.
Photo by Anthony Lupi