Coming into the weekend undefeated in conference play, the Ball State University men's tennis team's was planning on carrying its momentum to a first-place spot in the Mid-American Conference tournament.
Instead, with its one loss to rival No. 71 Western Michigan University, the team has to fight for the second spot to the tournament on April 26.
Overall, the Cardinals went 1-1 this weekend in conference play, winning Sunday's home match against the University at Buffalo.
In Saturday's away match against the Broncos, Ball State fell behind early after losing the doubles point to open the match.
However, during the beginning of singles play, Western Michigan lost three early sets to Ball State at the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 4 positions. Those early leads didn't hold for Ball State as the match continued, as freshman No. 1 singles player Eduardo Pavia lost 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 and junior No. 4 singles player Jorge Rodriguez fell 3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. No. 2 singles player Jose Perdomo defeated Alex Birchmeier 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) to obtain Ball State's one point in the 6-1 loss.
"There were a lot of points during singles where we had the chance to win sets and matches and we just didn't," coach Bill Richards said. "I think our guys came out of that match yesterday - if anyone had any doubt about our ability to beat Western Michigan - believing that we could."
Despite the loss, senior Danny Vidal said there were some positives that came out of the defeat.
"I pretty sure they overlooked us because we haven't had a good year," Vidal said. "We opened their eyes and I am pretty sure they will be really, really scared the next time we played them."
Looking for a chance to rebound from their loss, Ball State faced Buffalo Sunday in the Cardinals' first home match since March 8.
The tandems of No. 1 doubles Perdomo and Rodriguez and No. 2 doubles Pavia and Bret Berryman clinched the doubles point for Ball State, winning 8-3, 8-1 respectively.
Keeping momentum, the Cardinals won five out of six singles matches, winning the match 6-1.
"I think we had a little bit of a let down," Richards said. "Sometimes there is a tendency to do that after you win the doubles point, especially against a team that you think you are supposed to beat. I'll give these guys credit, we kind have made them aware that the needed to kick it into gear and for the most part they did."
Currently at 3-1 in conference play, Ball State will play the University of Toledo in its final match before the MAC tournament.
"Toledo won't be an easy match this Saturday," Richards said. "They are a good team, but I think we are picking it up and moving in the right direction at the right time."
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