The Hillsdale College women's tennis team came up short against a strong opponent in the home opener to the 2021-22 season on Friday evening.

Visiting Wayne St., with several players back from a solid squad last season, out-dueled the Chargers at several positions in a 6-1 loss for Hillsdale.

The Chargers' lone win came at No. 3 singles, where junior Canela Luna won a 6-3 first set over Wayne St.'s Linda Liong before Liong retired from the match. Luna also teamed with senior Sophia Spinazze in the Chargers' most competitive of the three doubles matches, falling 6-3 to Wayne St.'s Brianna Douglas and Sukhmani Mandair.

Slow starts costs the Chargers at other positions. Hillsdale No. 1 Sarah Hackman battled back to force a second-set tiebreak against Wayne St.'s Anais Ruyssen, but couldn't overcome a first-set loss in a 6-0, 7-6 (1) defeat, and Helana Formentin also nearly took the second set for the Chargers against Douglas at No. 5 singles, but came up short in a 6-1, 7-5 defeat.

Spinazze battled but fell in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, to Wayne St.'s Marta Komar at No. 4 singles as well.

Hillsdale (0-1) will look to bounce back against another regional opponent next Sunday, as the Chargers face Saginaw Valley St. at 1 p.m. on Oct. 3 in a neutral site match in Grand Rapids.

Photo by Jordan Menard, University of Indianapolis Athletics