Hillsdale grabs wins in back-to-back matches, improves to 8-2

By Emily Schutte Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale men’s tennis team went undefeated this weekend with 5-2 wins both days, moving their record to 8-2 on the season.

The Chargers headed to both Springfield, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, to play the University of Illinois-Springfield Prairie Stars and the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons.

The win against the Prairie Stars was important for the Chargers’ postseason hopes as Illinois-Springfield has been a tough competitor in the Midwest region, making an appearance in the DII NCAA tournament two years ago.

“The regional rankings aren’t really posted right now,” senior Tyler Conrad said. “But we kind of have an idea of where we would be. There’s like three or four teams fighting for the last couple spots in the region, like the 7 and 8 spot, and we’re in that group and Springfield was in that group as well. So it was a really good win to knock them out.”

The doubles point was clinched by the No. 1 and No.

2 teams each pulling out a win. Junior Brennan Cimpeanu and senior Brian Hackman won 7-5 in a tiebreaker match while junior Sean Barstow and Conrad won 6-3. Freshman Nik Wastcoat and freshman Aidan Pack had a strong performance but ended with a 4-6 loss.

“They showed a lot of promise,” Conrad said. “They didn’t get any wins this weekend, but it still shows a lot of promise for both of them in the future.”

Singles matches also held a number of wins for the team. No. 1 Cimpeanu won 6-1, 6-2.

“I think this is the first weekend that I played my best this whole semester, just feeling a lot more loose than I usually am,” Cimpeanu said. “The pressure kind of came off me in terms of just being the No. 1 singles, and you’re expected to perform, but I think this week I just had fun.”

Hackman played to a tie break set after losing the first 1-6 and winning the second 6-4. He took home the win, scoring 6-2. Barstow and junior Daniel Gilbert also gained singles points winning 6-2, 6-0, and 6-1, 5-7, 6-0

Men’s Basketball

respectively.

“I played well,” Gilbert said. “The first match was a bit of a challenge. He was a smart player who kept changing his game style to mess me up.”

Pack and Conrad were unable to gain a win. Pack lost 0-6, 1-6 while Conrad almost pulled through in a tiebreaking round but ended in a 2-6, 6-3, 4-6 loss.

“I could have played a little bit better,” Conrad said. “I got a little bit unlucky at times. I think I played well and getting a single win outdoors on Sunday gives me more confidence going into spring break. We’ll have more outdoor experience than usual before going to play the top teams in the country down in Florida.”

Hillsdale was unable to take a doubles win on Sunday.

Cimpeanu and Hackman won their match 7-5, but Barstow and Conrad, and Pack and Wastcoat lost their matches 4-6, and 3-6 respectively.

“Brian and Brennan were really good together,” Gilbert said. “They haven’t had a chance to play together since Brennan’s freshman year. They definitely have good chemistry. We got to see how some of the other guys meshed, and maybe we’ll change it again based on that.”

Singles was a strong event for the Chargers with only one loss at No. 2 singles.

Hackman went 5-7, 1-6, Cimpeanu won 6-4, 6-4, and Pack lost his first set 0-6 but pulled through with a 7-5, 7-4 win. Conrad and Gilbert also gained singles points, winning 6-4, 6-4 and 6-2, 6-1.

“It was our first outside match of the season, and it was in 65 degree weather which we don’t really have here at this time,” Gilbert said. “It was a little tough to get adjusted to the wind and the sun, but it was fun.”

Hillsdale is headed to Florida next weekend to play against Rollins College in Orlando March 12 and St. Leo University in St. Leo March 13.

“I think just staying motivated in singles is big,” Gilbert said. “It’s tough playing a long doubles point and then going straight into singles. We just gotta bring it at the beginning of the singles matches and then Florida should be good. We’ll get used to playing outside which will help us for the conference season.”