The men’s tennis team from Ball State University demonstrated a valiant effort but ultimately faced defeat against Toledo in a hard-fought 3-4 loss. Toledo’s victory on their home courts resulted in both teams holding an overall record of 7-7.
Head Coach Bill Richards had anticipated a closely contested match ahead of the game. “They were superior to us today,” remarked Richards. “I firmly believe that, on a different day, we are certainly capable of defeating them, but unfortunately, we couldn’t perform when it mattered most.”
Toledo gained an early advantage by securing the first point in the doubles play, with Ball State suffering a 2-0 defeat. Junior Nathaniel Webster and graduate student Vince Orlando were defeated 3-6 at No. 1 doubles, while graduate student Eli Herran and junior Sajin Smith also fell 3-6 at No. 3 doubles.
The Cardinals continued to persevere in the singles play, with Webster, Orlando, and Smith facing formidable opponents. However, Herran managed to secure a victory at No. 3 singles after an intense three-set match. Meanwhile, junior Mason Tran and sophomore Jacks Lancaster displayed commendable resilience and determination in their singles matches, despite the team ultimately falling short.
Looking ahead, the team is preparing to face Buffalo in Buffalo, New York on Sunday, March 17th at 11 a.m. Coach Richards is optimistic about his team’s chances and hopes to see them make a strong comeback. “We’ll have to produce our very best to stand a chance at victory,” emphasized Richards. “They are an outstanding team, extremely challenging to defeat when playing at home indoors.”
It is evident that the team is eager to learn and progress from this defeat, using it as motivation to excel in the upcoming matches.
For additional information, please contact Lauren Graham via email at [email protected].