Ball State will close it's stretch of five matches in eight days this weekend when they host Dayton and IPFW on Saturday. The Cardinals (2-1) will look for a repeat performance of last year, when they beat both teams 7-0.
The team, however, is still catching their breath after a long 3.5 hour match against Wright State Wednesday.
"We were still a tired today in practice," coach Kathy Bull said. "But I think we will recover fast."
The Flyers (0-1) are coming off a 6-1 loss to Miami, and will be looking to get some revenge on the Cardinals.
"I think we got a bit of a wake up call with Wright State," Bull said. "We saw Dayton in the fall at an invitational, and I know their top two players, and they should give us a good fight."
The Cardinals lineup will feature senior Jenny Batty taking on Erin Kirkland, the only Flyer with a win so far. Jessica Thompson will likely face Dayton's Courtney McDowell. The rest of the Cardinals lineup will feature freshmen Jennifer Pollack, Haly Calderwood, Stephanie Farrar and Katie Owens.
Farrar has started the season on a tear, winning her first three singles matches, including a two-set sweep on Wednesday.
Doubles teams have varied for the Cardinals, but the lineup seems to have settled with Batty and Farrar playing in the top spot, followed by Owens and Thompson and finishing with Pollack and Calderwood.
The Mastadons will be the weaker of the two opponents, as the program is still adjusting from it's move to Division I.
"I don't know a whole lot about IPFW," Bull said. "We're taking things one step at a time and not looking to far ahead. IPFW is trying to build a program and improve their level. I think they will have some good players at the top of their lineup, but I don't know about their depth."
Bull, meanwhile, will continue pushing her team to prepare them for the Mid-American Conference season.
"We have to see how strong we are," she said. "I think that this stretch will be good for us."
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