WOMEN'S TENNIS: Cards ready for season's first road tournament

Ball State University women's tennis coach Kathy Bull had the task of preparing her team to get ready for the first match of the year last week.

She has a tougher duty this weekend. The team is competing in its first away match on five-days rest.

The Cardinals travel to the Queen City Collegiate Invitational hosted by the University of Cincinnati. The three-day invitational is an indoor tournament played in a facility located 50 miles north of the University of Cincinnati's campus.

Bull said the lack of time between these first two tournaments is tough, but the team has to go with it.

"We had a short week because we didn't practice Monday after our invitational," Bull said. "It's just how it goes when you get into the swing of the playing season."

Along with the playing season come injuries. Sophomore Georgina Thomson and Freshmen Sarah McKinney will wear knee braces at the invitational.

"We are a little banged up," Bull said. "It shouldn't be a problem. We'll just see how it goes."

There will also be a few changes in the lineup this tournament.

Thomson will play with freshmen Hanna Ohman and freshmen Sarah Hebble will be paired with Kylee Johnson in doubles.

Bull said the level of competition would increase from what her team saw at the Ball State Invitational.

"It was a really good tournament here last year," Bull Said. "High quality play and it was a notch above our invite last year, so I expect the same."

Also competing at the Queen City Collegiate Invitational is Cincinnati, the University of Dayton, Eastern Kentucky University, Kennesaw State University, West Virginia University, Wright State University, and Xavier University.

Coach Bull said West Virginia would be the toughest competition at the tournament. In Ball State's twelve opening-round matches, five are against the Mountaineers.