In a weekend of Mid-American Conference rivalries for the women's tennis team, head coach Kathy Bull could only grimace at the sight of two losses, to Miami (Ohio) Friday and Marshall the following day.
Against Marshall the Cardinals (10-7 overall, 2-5 MAC) struggled with tightness and fatigue. While the Thundering Herd made quick work of the Cards in doubles, the team rebounded to challenge Marshall in several singles matches.
Though the Cardinals won only one point, Bull said she was encouraged with the team stepping up after such a poor doubles outing.
Nonetheless, she said the team's motivation seemed misplaced to her, as it was not necessarily playing for a victory.
"We played more like we didn't want to be embarrassed or get shellacked," Bull said. "It was more like we played not to lose and not to win."
Against the RedHawks on Friday, the Cardinals could not overcome losing the doubles point, only managing to split the singles points three points each.
With the two losses, the Cards have fallen out of any potential race for the MAC title, and while Bull said she knows the team is down about the matches, they mean more to her.
"With a history like these games had and the rivalries I've had with them, I think it hurt me to walk away with losses more than it hurt the team," Bull said.
Despite playing what Bull called "some close tennis," she said she can not get past the fact the team has not been able to overcome its conference woes, losing five of its last six league games.
"I've told my players for a while," Bull said. "My epitaph on my tombstone is going to read, 'She played hard and she came close.'
"But I'm getting sick of coming close and we need to find a way mentally and emotionally to motivate the team to reach that next level."
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