A promising fall and a long winter have given way to a spring season full of opportunity for the Hillsdale College women's tennis team.
On Saturday, the Chargers took their first step toward capitalizing on that opportunity opening their spring schedule with a 5-0 victory over host Saginaw Valley St. at the Greater Midland Tennis Center in Midland, Michigan.
Hillsdale got a 6-4 win at No. 1 doubles from Hannah Cimpeanu and Sarah Hackman and a 6-3 win from Sophia Spinazze and Ellie Chawner at No. 2 doubles to secure the doubles point to start the match, then took care of business in the singles to clinch the victory over the Cardinals quickly.
Cimpeanu, a junior, led the way for the Chargers with a 6-1, 6-3 victory at No. 1 singles over Sara Neves of SVSU, and Hackman, a sophomore, defeated Chelsea Dzenga of SVSU 6-4, 6-2 at No. 2 singlesas well.
Also picking up wins in singles for the Chargers were Spinazze, a sophomore, who beat Emma Charlton of SVSU 6-1, 6-2 at No. 4 singles, and Chawner, a freshman, who topped Gyselle Gutierrez of SVSU 6-3, 6-4 at No. 5 singles as well.
Hillsdale is looking to capture its third-straight Great Midwest Athletic Conference title. The Chargers won in 2018 and 2019, but lost a chance at a three-peat last season when the Covid-19 pandemic brought the season to a close before conference play could start.
The Chargers are off until next Sunday, when Hillsdale hosts its home opener for the spring against Davenport in a 3 p.m. match inside the Biermann Center.
Photo by Cody Wainscott