Ball State continued a successful start to their 2005 campaign with another two victories over Youngstown State and Southern Illinois this weekend.
"We had the flu bug hit us Tuesday," coach Kathy Bull said. "I think we handled it very well. We had two solid performances."
The Cardinals (7-2) started things off against Southern Illinois on Friday with a 5-2 victory.
In doubles, Jessica Thompson and Katie Owens teamed up for a 8-3 win at the No. 2 slot and Jennifer Pollack and Haly Calderwood scored an 8-2 win in the third slot to secure the doubles point. Jenny Batty and Stephanie Farrar dropped a hard-fought 9-8 (9) loss at the top spot.
In singles, Batty led the team with a 6-1, 6-4 win, while Jessica Thompson scored a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win in the second spot. Farrar (4-6, 6-3, 7-5) and Allison Thompson (6-1, 6-2) also scored wins while Calderwood and Pollack dropped matches.
On Sunday, the Cardinals took on Youngstown State, who dropped a match to Southern Illinois on Saturday. The Cardinals, who defeated the Penguins a year ago 7-0, once again had their way with Youngstown State, winning 6-1.
"They're much improved," Bull said. "I thought they put up a great fight.
"We play a much more tactical brand of tennis. I have respect for my athletes for that. The other team hit the ball hard and they look good doing it, but we focus more on where and when we're going to hit it, and that's probably why we did as well as we did."
The Cardinals once again won the doubles point, with Batty and Farrar and Pollack and Calderwood taking their sets.
In singles, the Cardinals continued their success, although Pollack's struggles continued. Batty, Jessica Thompson, Calderwood, Farrar and Owens all took sets for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals conclude their home stint before heading to Arizona over Spring Break on Friday when they host DePaul.
"DePaul will be a good opponent, as good as the two Big Ten schools we've faced," Bull said. "Then we're going to head to Phoenix and learn how to play outside again. The conference season's going to be here before we know it."
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