The streak continues.
Ball State University lost its 11th straight regular season match to Miami University as the Redhawks defeated the Cardinals 6-1.
"The biggest thing I worry about is that we can't play at this level with the number of unforced errors," coach Kathy Bull said. "You can't go up against a team like Miami and give away the number of points that you do and constantly battle back from a hole. People have to step up and get that figured out."
The outcome of the match was determined early, as Miami cruised in all three doubles matches.
That was followed by three quick singles victories for the Redhawks. BSU's No. 2 Jennifer Pollack lost 6-1, 6-0; No. 5 Emma Retter lost 6-3, 6-1 and No. 6 Rachel Lemar lost 6-2, 6-1.
Even though the match was over at that point, the final three matches proved to be thrilling and controversial.
At No. 4 singles, BSU's Katie Owens' actions almost cost her teammate a singles victory. After dropping the first set to Kelly Douple 6-2, Owens fought back with a convincing 6-1 second set win.
However, the momentum did not carry over into the super tiebreaker, as Owens lost 10-7. After dropping the final point, Owens threw her racket.
Since Owens threw her racquet , the rules state that a point is awarded to the other team in the highest-seeded match still playing, also called the "carryover" rule.
In that case, it was at No. 1 singles, where Ball State's Jessica Thompson was in a super tiebreaker of her own. With Thompson up 9-8 and one point from the win, Miami's Katrina Lomidze was awarded that point, making it 9-9.
But Thompson fought it off and won the match with a 11-9 third-set super tiebreaker win. Thompson had dropped the first set 6-4 before winning the second set 6-1.
"[Thompson] is one of those people that if she does get her back against the wall she doesn't quit," Bull said. "She reassesses and always comes out fighting. And I think a lot of people that play her don't understand that."
At No. 3 singles, Haly Calderwood won the first set 6-3, but fell 6-4 in the second set and lost 10-5 in a super tiebreaker.
As for the "carryover" rule that almost cost Thompson, Bull said that while it is rarely called, she agreed with the official's decision.
"I think it's a good rule," she said. "We're a team. It isn't about one individual or another individual. This is a sport of sportsmanship and you have to understand that. It stinks when one of your teammates has to pay that penalty, but that's what team is."
The Redhawks have now won 29 out of the last 30 matches against the Cardinals.
Ball State's record drops to 8-10 overall, and 2-4 in the Mid-American Conference.
Its next match is Friday, as the team travels to Akron, Ohio, to play the University of Akron.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
