The Ball State University women's tennis team looks to play the role of spoiler when the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee brings its four-match winning streak to the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center at 1 p.m.
The winning streak is the longest in Wisconsin-Milwaukee team history since they joined NCAA Division-I competition in the 1990-91 school year. The match also marks the end of the Cardinals' non-conference schedule.
"I think this match is pretty big," Ball State head coach Kathy Bull said. "I told my team that this match was completely up to them and they had to decide how they wanted to end this non-conference season. If we don't come out with the right attitude, we're going to have a rough day."
The Panthers (9-6, 2-1 Horizon League) have completed a turnaround since their last matchup with Ball State.
In 2006, when Ball State swept the Panthers 7-0, Wisconsin-Milwaukee won four matches en route to a last-place finish in the Horizon League Championships.
Last season, however, Wisconsin-Milwaukee head coach Matt McCaskill guided the Panthers to a school-record 13 wins - more than the previous five seasons combined - and a fifth-place finish in the Horizon League Championships.
Bull said she is especially impressed with the Panthers this season because the roster includes no seniors, only one junior and three sophomores and freshmen apiece.
"We respect that they have some really dedicated athletes, and we're aware that they can swing away pretty freely in a match like this," Bull said. "They really have nothing to lose and all to gain, while we're kind of the opposite right now."
Wisconsin-Milwaukee returns sophomore Kelly Drvaric, a 2007 All-Horizon League Second Team selection who has a 14-16 combined singles and doubles record this season. Also, the Panthers' Jenna Felsher, a freshman, is a combined 12-7 this season, including a 6-3 record at No. 5 and 6 singles.
"It's a good turnaround for them," said senior Jennifer Pollack, who has won both her career matches against the Panthers. "Teams can drastically improve from one year to the next pending on new players."
On Wednesday, the Cardinals (6-4) lost 4-3 to Butler University in a match that Bull said was disappointing because of some of her team's mental attitudes on the court. She said she looks for a different mental approach in the Wisconsin-Milwaukee match.
"I had a couple individuals who did not have the right approach in [Wednesday's] match," Bull said. "I expect them to step up pretty big [Friday]. I don't have to go up to them or point it out for them - they realize it, and I'm really counting on them [Friday]."
Pollack, one of two senior captains on the team, said her team is past the Butler match and is eagerly looking ahead to the Wisconsin-Milwaukee showdown.
"Yeah, some of us were obviously frustrated against Butler," Pollack said, "but [Friday] is a different day and a different match. We just need to go out there with a positive attitude and be focused and aggressive."
Against Butler, Ball State was without No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles player Sophie Quist because of her ongoing battle with shoulder tendonitis. Bull said Quist is expected to play.
"Sophie hit in practice [Thursday] and looked quite a bit better," Bull said.
Quist's expected return will reorder the Ball State lineup to normal after it was forced to shift against Butler because of her injury. Bull said the decision of whether to give Quist a cortisone shot will be determined after the Wisconsin-Milwaukee match.
"We've got to use our Spring Break wisely to treat those issues to get a little bit stronger, so they don't bite us back when we begin our conference schedule," Bull said.
The match against Wisconsin-Milwaukee begins at 1 p.m.
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
