After falling to defending champion Illinois, the men's tennis team goes to West Lafayette to take on the No. 53 Boilermakers.
The No. 62 Cardinals (2-1) matchup at Purdue is their second in as many weeks against a ranked Big Ten school.
Last year, the Cardinals were able to score a victory over the Boilermakers, but coach Bill Richards says that doesn't mean things are going to be easier.
"We know that Purdue is really going to be pointing to this match. Last year it was very exciting; it went down to the wire," he said. "So we know they look forward to this match and will try and get some revenge."
In 2003, the Cardinals were able to score an upset victory against Purdue, thanks in part to Matt Baccarani, who won the final singles match to give Ball State the 4-3 victory.
In order to repeat that performance, Richards thinks the doubles point, which begins every match, will be crucial.
"I think it's important, especially on the road, to get off to a good start and not be in a hole and have to dig out of it," Richards said. "And, as always, the doubles point is a key, especially on the road."
History seems to agree with Richards, as last year in the Cards' 4-3 victory Ball State captured all three doubles matches.
It isn't the first time this year the Cardinals have seen the Boilermakers -- at least not for the whole team. The doubles team of Troy Havens/Paul Rose escaped an upset from BSU's Matt Laramore/Brad Rhodes, 9-7, in the first round of the ITA Regionals this fall.
Havens and Rose are expected to face Baccarani and Laramore in singles competition, and will likely face Baccarani/Patrick Thompson in doubles. Laramore defeated Rose in a closely contested match in 2003.
The match will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and will be the first part of a long weekend for Purdue, as it will take on Butler on Sunday.
Next weekend the Cardinals will take on No. 58 Northwestern and unranked Wisconsin. Richards thinks the next few weeks will help the team tremendously.
"We're just looking forward, as much as it is a challenge, looking forward to this stretch against all the Big Ten teams," he said. "We want to know how we are, and I think these matches, better than Illinois, will help us find out. I'm anxious to see how we hold up the next few weeks."
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