IPFW did not provide Ball State University much competition on Friday as the Cardinals stomped all over the Mastodons 7-0. While the score may look impressive, coach Kathy Bull said her team did not play up to what she expected.
"We played all right," Bull said. "I thought that we weren't at the top of our game, and whether that had to do with not playing till 6:30 or underestimating our opponent, I don't know. But we got the job done."
The doubles teams once again got the Cardinals off to a good start by sweeping all three matches. The No. 1 team of Jessica Thompson and Haly Calderwood cruised to an 8-1 victory, and No. 2 Katie Owens and Stephanie Farrar won 8-3. The No. 3 doubles team of Jennifer Pollack and Rachel Lemar struggled a little bit, but came through with an 8-6 win.
Ball State carried the domination over to singles. The only set lost was by No. 3 Pollack, who lost the first set 6-0, before winning the second set 7-5 and the third set 1-0 in a super tiebreaker. Thompson won 6-1, 7-6; Farrar 6-2, 6-3; Owens 6-1, 6-1; and Emma Retter 6-2, 6-0.
It was a different type of match for Calderwood, as she was taking on a left-handed hitter, which can create a different spin on the ball. But she was still able to win 6-1, 6-2. Calderwood said it is a different mindset when you play an inferior opponent.
"It's hard when you go out there against a team you are supposed to beat, and the pressure's kind of on, and I think we handled it very well," Calderwood said.
Retter said she was happy with the way her team played on Friday.
"I think everyone played well," Retter said. "Everyone did what we have been practicing throughout the week, we did what we had to do as a team rather than worrying what the other team will do."
Bull said she hopes the Cardinals keep improving.
"[There's] not nearly as much satisfaction in winning a match like that," Bull said. "It's kind of a good thing, I guess, that our program is at the point where we look down at a 7-0 victory. I'm more about the process and make sure we keep moving forward."
Home court has been kind to the Cardinals, as they are now 4-0 at the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
Ball State's (4-2) next match is Friday at home against Youngstown State at 3 p.m.
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