For the past year, Ball State University women's tennis head coach Kathy Bull said her team's main goal has been improving on doubles play.
"In the matches that we lost last spring, we really didn't secure the doubles point," said Bull, who is currently in her 19th year as head coach. "We know the significance of getting the one doubles point - it's critical."
The Cardinals will be able to focus on their goal Saturday when they open up the spring season in Bloomington at the Indiana Doubles Invitational.
"The good thing about this tournament is that the team record is not at jeopardy," Bull said. "It's a good venture to try to get good doubles practice."
Senior Jennifer Pollack said the team was eager to get back to competing after being limited to practicing since its last match in October.
"Competing is always more fun than practicing," said Pollack, who will primarily be teamed with fellow senior Haly Calderwood this weekend. "This weekend is a great opportunity to assess our progress and also the weaknesses we need to improve on before we play a real season match next Saturday against Dayton."
Freshman Hayley Hall, who will be paired with junior Rachel Surowiec, said she hopes her offseason transition from singles to doubles play will pay dividends.
"I pretty much only played singles before college," Hall said. "I had to work on all the things you need in doubles - such as my communication skills and volleys - but most of that work was done in the fall, and I feel like am ready to go for this spring."
Junior Emma Retter and freshman Georgina Thomson will be the Cardinals' final doubles tandem.
Ball State will be joined in the tournament by host Indiana University, Indiana State University, the University of Louisville and MAC opponent Bowling Green State University. The matches for the two-day tournament are set to begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.
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