Ball State traveled to Middle Tennessee without two of their topplayers this weekend. While Katie Owens and Stephanie Farrar wererecovering in Muncie, the rest of the Cardinals faced the deep drawof the Middle Tennessee Invitational.
Jenny Batty led the way for the Cardinals, earning the victoryin the Flight A consolation bracket after falling to UT Martin'sSari Nortje (2-6, 6-3, 6-4). Nortje went on to the finals.
"To leave Owens and Farrar, I don't think we realize how muchthey do for us every week," coach Kathy Bull.
The Cards faced another key injury when Jessica Thompson had tosit out due to a inflamed heel which ended Batty and Thompson's runin Flight A doubles. Batty and Thompson had flew through the firstround with a 8-1 win over Emily Ellis and Erin Moakler of LibscombUniversity.
"If anything, we probably didn't shine a whole lot on thedoubles court," Bull said.
The other doubles teams fell in the first round, with HalyCalderwood and Jennifer Pollack losing 8-6 to Memphis' MarleneDirnstorfer and Brooke Cowie while Allison Thompson and Beth Campusfell to Kristina Popovic and Alicja Kutyla of Cumberland University8-6 in Flight B.
"We put two freshman together and they actually did well," Bullsaid of Calderwood and Allison Thompson. "The way the tournamentwas laid out there was no second chance, not even a back draw, andthey fell the eventual champions, so that was a littlefrustrating."
On the singles court, the Cardinals had a little more success,with back draws that gave some Cards second chances.
In Flight B, Calderwood earned a 6-3, 6-2 win over Kristin Nobleof Memphis in the first round before falling to Middle Tennessee'sKatrina Domela, who advanced to the finals. Jennifer Pollack fellin the first round to eventual champ Gulsah Esen of UAB 6-0, 6-0before advancing to the Consolation finals where she fell to LindaJohnansson of Belmont.
"I saw some players step up," Bull said. "I think Jennifer wasone, she came out and had two good games. She just had a hard timesustaining it over the final day. It might be a strength thing,with her being a freshman."
In Flight C, Allison Thompson advanced to the second roundbefore falling to Emily Vest of Middle Tennessee. In Flight D, BethCampus fell to eventual flight champ Jacqui Williams, also ofMiddle Tennesse, in the first round.
"I think each weekend a freshman steps up," Bull said. "Beforeyou know it, we'll be jumping in the van heading to Memphis."
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