The Hillsdale College women's tennis team kicked off the 2023-24 season over the weekend against tough competition, hosting their annual Charger Summer Invitational.
With one of the top teams in the Midwest Region, Wayne State, in attendance, as well as G-MAC title contenders Findlay and Walsh, wins were hard-earned for every player in the event. Despite the challenging opposition, Hillsdale had some solid performances, particularly in doubles.
In the Doubles A draw, Hillsdale's team of junior Libby McGivern and freshman Ane Dannhauser won an 8-6 opening match against a team from Findlay before falling to the eventual bracket champions from Wayne State in the second round. Another Chargers team of senior Melanie Zampardo and sophomore Megan Hackman bounced back from an opening round loss in the same draw to take the consolation title, beating the two teams from Findlay 8-2 and 8-3 along the way.
Also in doubles action in the B draw, Hillsdale's Julia Wagner and Courtney Rittel pulled off the same feat, beating a team from Walsh 8-3 in the opener before falling to the eventual bracket champions from Findlay in the semifinal.
In singles play, Dannhauser impressed in her first collegiate action in the A draw, beating Findlay's Elina Ivanovna 7-5, 2-6, 10-8 and Anamarija Kovacevic 6-1, 5-7, 10-8 in hard-fought matches to go 2-1 and take down both of the Oilers' top two players. Wagner also played well in the D draw for the Chargers in singles, bouncing back from a first round loss to beat Walsh's Rachel Kibler 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 and Findlay's Madison Arquette 7-5, 0-6, 12-10 to win the consolation title in the bracket.
Despite the season having just begun, Hillsdale has a short turnaround to the 2023 ITA Midwest Regional hosted by Indianapolis, which begins next Saturday. The three-day event brings together all of the top NCAA Division II singles players and doubles teams from across the Midwest Region, making it the premier fall showcase at the NCAA DII level in the Midwest and also a great measuring stick for where the Chargers stand as they prepare for championship season in the spring.
Photo by Emma Purdy