The Hillsdale College men's tennis team improved to 8-1 overall with another hard-fought 4-3 win against another tough Midwest Regional opponent in a road match against Northwood on Saturday.
The outcome of the match was heavily influenced by a tight No. 2 doubles match, as freshman Brennan Cimpeanu and senior Gabe Katz pulled out a narrow 7-5 victory that, combined with a 6-0 win at No.3 doubles by junior Brian Hackman and freshman Daniel Gilbert, allowed the Chargers to take the doubles point.
With singles matches being split down the middle, Hillsdale and Northwood taking three each, that doubles point was critical in taking the match victory.
In singles, Cimpeanu and Katz both had critical wins as well. Cimpeanu was a 6-4, 6-3 victor over Ben Brandherm of Northwood at No. 2 singles, and Katz won a 6-0, 6-1 match over the Timberwolves' Clayton Scott at No. 6 singles.
Gilbert clinched the match for the Chargers with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at No. 5 singles as well.
Though they came up short, both Hackman and freshman Sean Barstow played highly competitive and excellent matches at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively, that both included two tiebreaks. Hackman was defeated 6-7, 6-2, 6-7 at No. 3 singles, and Sean Barstow fell 6-1, 6-7, 6-7 at No. 4 singles.
Hillsdale is now 7-1 in Midwest Regional play and 6-1 against opponents from the GLIAC, putting the Chargers in an extremely good spot with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference season fast approaching. The Chargers play Indiana Tech on Friday, March 26 at noon for their final nonconference match before opening G-MAC play on Saturday, March 27 at Kentucky Wesleyan.
Photo by Summer Fields