In its final tune-up for next weekend's Mid-American Conference Tournament, the women's tennis team asserted itself as a possible "cinderella team" as it dismantled the University of Akron and the University at Buffalo during the weekend.
The Akron Zips (5-12 overall, 1-7 MAC) proved little trouble for the Cardinals (12-7, 4-5), as the team did not lose a single match on its way to a 7-0 victory. Head coach Kathy Bull attributed much of the success to the talent level of the team, but said it came down to more than just skill.
"Part of it is talent, but the rest is being determined and having the grit to get it done," Bull said. "Akron just didn't have the heart that we did."
Sophomore Melissa Roach and freshman Jenny Batty highlighted the match, Bull said, as the duo played what Bull called "outstanding tennis."
With no time to recover, the team hit the road for the trek to Buffalo, where the Cardinals overcame more than 10 hours of driving to complete the weekend sweep with the 7-0 win over the Bulls (2-14, 0-8).
Bull said the team needed only 29 minutes to win the doubles point, as the team used an aggressive attack at the net to force Buffalo to "retreat to the baseline" where it couldn't overcome Ball State's over-powering shots.
"Going against Buffalo, we just had to be realistic," Bull said. "We were just more talented. (Buffalo) was not on the same level."
In the nine matches the Cardinals played against Buffalo (including doubles play), the team allowed nine points total as freshman Jenny Batty and junior Susan Kelley shut out their opponents in both of their sets.
"Besides having to drive 1,000 miles, the weekend went pretty well," Bull said. "But that was my team out there against Buffalo. I could just sit back and watch. They didn't need me."
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