When the dual-match season started in January the Ball State University men's tennis team ironed out two goals for its upcoming schedule: win the Mid-American Conference championship and earn a NCAA tournament berth.
At the end of Monday's practice, Ball State men's tennis coach Bill Richards gathered his players and talked about where the Cardinals stand in accomplishing the early ambitions the team had set.
"[Richards said] basically what we've done is done, and it's time to move on," senior Danny Vidal said. "Our two goals are still achievable."
The Cardinals are looking to get closer to their goals when they play IUPUI Saturday in Ball State's last home meet until April 13.
Richards said the team's 5-7 record does not hold as much importance as the upcoming conference season, which starts April 6 at Northern Illinois University. The winter schedule prior to the April 6 contest, including the four nationally ranked teams the Cardinals played, is set up to prepare the squad for the heated competition of conference play and the MAC tournament, he said.
However, Vidal said the team still needs to improve.
"Everyone needs to get more consistent," the senior said. "It seems like we always have three guys playing good and three others who aren't."
Ball State was set to play a doubleheader this weekend with Anderson University, but the Ravens opted out of the match after being low on competitive players.
In what was described by Richards as a last-minute schedule addition, Anderson's coach Galen Scott wanted to fill the schedule with another event. Instead, Scott backed out of the contest last week because he couldn't field a team.
"We needed another match before the trip [to Las Vegas]," Richards said of the match against the University of Nevada-Las Vegas during Spring Break. "It was a situation where we were trying to do [Anderson] a favor, and it just didn't work out on their end."
Despite his team's record, Richards said he is confident about the upcoming conference schedule and accomplishing team goals.
"The conference season is more important [than the games now]," Richards said. "It gives us something to look forward to. We just have to peak at the right time."
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