Despite sweeping Chicago State University in its first conference match of the season last week, coach Bill Richards said he knew his team would have to play better to win upcoming matches.
As the Ball State University men's tennis team approaches away matches at the University of Notre Dame Friday and Northern Illinois University Sunday, Richards' challenge remains one of the many obstacles in the way of Ball State University and another Mid-American Conference championship.
"They are two different types of matches," Richards said. "With Notre Dame we have to head into the match like we are facing a Big Ten team. We are an underdog in those types of matches, so we just have to play individually as tough as we can and hopefully win a few individual matches to pull off an upset."
The No. 27 Irish sit at 10 -8 on the year and have lost four straight entering the match with the Cardinals. Notre Dame's last two matches were against ranked opponents, including No. 2 Ohio State University.
Ball State remains winless against opponents in the nationally ranked spotlight. With the Cardinals' current record against ranked foes sitting at an individual 2-32 in five matches, their one pair of wins came in the Boise State Invitational against No. 65 Wichita State.
"We just want to prove ourselves and win more than one match against ranked teams," senior Danny Vidal said. "We've been close to pulling off and have had good performances from a couple guys, so that means we are close."
Even playing two tough opponents in the three-day span, Richards said, one conference loss could keep the Cardinals from the top spots of the MAC tournament.
"We approach every match from the mind-set that we are playing for a championship on that particular day." Richards said. "If we lose we are behind the eight ball in the race for a conference championship."
Vidal said the team is in a confident position entering the final stretch.
"We have to approach this weekend with the same mind-set that we need to 'take care of business,'" Vidal said. "We won easily [against Chicago State] because everyone was focused from top to bottom. We are still Ball State and the team to beat in conference; that's why all these teams are looking forward too playing us. Basically, it's MAC time."
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
