Despite a strong start and several close matches, the Hillsdale College women's tennis team fell to visiting Michigan Tech, 5-2, on Saturday.
For the third time in three matches this spring, the Chargers got out of the gate quickly, seizing the doubles point from the Huskies. Hillsdale's regionally ranked pairing of senior Melanie Zampardo and sophomore Megan Hackman made short work of Michigan Tech in a 6-2 victory at No. 1 doubles, and at No. 3 doubles, junior Libby McGivern and senior Helana Formentin picked up a 6-3 victory over their Michigan Tech opponents as well to give the Chargers a 1-0 lead.
In singles play, Hillsdale got a second point from freshman Ane Dannhauser, who rolled to an impressive 6-1, 6-3 victory over Michigan Tech's Bella Bigari at No. 2 singles. Unfortunately for the Chargers, wins elsewhere proved elusive, despite close sets in many of the other five matches and three matches where the Chargers took their Michigan Tech opponent to a third set -- McGivern at No. 3 singles, Formentin at No. 4 singles, and Courtney Rittel at No. 6 singles. Both McGivern and Rittel rallied from first set defeats to get to the deciding third set as well.
The Chargers are 0-3 on the season but have been close in all three matches they've played. Hillsdale next hits the road to travel to Pennsylvania for matches against Edinboro on Saturday, Feb. 17 and Mercyhurst on Sunday, Feb. 18.
Photo by Emma Purdy