Most teams would feel good about starting conference play at 2-0 and owning a 15-6 overall record. However, after what coach Bill Richards felt was a halfhearted effort against the University of Toledo Saturday, the Ball State University men's tennis team has something to prove.
The Cardinals travel to Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne today for their third Mid-American Conference match of the season.
"I don't know if it's good or bad that we have this match [today] before Western Michigan, but that's out of our control," Richards said. "I think it's just a matter now for some of our guys of taking a step back and having a little bit of an attitude adjustment and try to refocus."
IPFW is 10-13 with an 0-3 record in the MAC after losing to Toledo 7-0 on Sunday. IPFW is a veteran squad, having six seniors on the team. One of those seniors happens to be from Muncie: Former Delta Eagle Daniel Jackson normally plays No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles for the Mastodons.
After struggling through a hard-fought match against Toledo, Richards knows his team cannot take any opponent lightly.
"Certainly with the way we played on Saturday, we can't look past IPFW," Richards said. "Everyone in this league can play. There isn't any player in the division who is just going to go out and give you the match. I think that we have to make sure that we understand that and try to use [today] as a positive to get ready for Saturday."
Senior Patrick Thompson said if the team approaches the IPFW match the right way, it will be fine.
"I think for most of our team we just need to get back out there and beat IPFW, play with a chip on our shoulder and just get back to playing," Thompson said.
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