After a one-point loss to the University of Dayton Saturday, the Ball State University women's tennis team rebounded by blowing past Wright State University, claiming a 6-1 win against the Raiders at the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
Ball State coach Kathy Bull said she noticed the Cardinals were much more relaxed than during the Dayton match.
"Last Saturday you could really tell the youngsters were nervous," she said. "Today, they were more settled."
Despite the Cardinals' youthfulness, the team still put on a show displaying some of the players' great potential, Bull said.
"We're really young teams right now, but in a few years, watch out," Bull said. "They are really getting great experience out there."
The duo of Georgina Thomson and Dena Boulieris recorded a win for the Cardinals by defeating Kenisha Webb and Masha Peresetsky 8-4 at the No. 1 doubles spot. The Cardinals' No. 2 doubles team comprised of freshmen Sarah Hebble and Kylee Johnson claimed a victory 8-1, and the tandem of Elizabeth Crasto and Kimberly Robbins capped off a Cardinal sweep with an 8-6 victory against the Raiders.
As for singles, the Cardinals walked away from all but one match victoriously. No. 1 singles player Sarah Hebble led the way for Ball State with a 6-4, 6-4 win. Following close behind was freshman Dena Boulieris picking up a victory at the No. 2 spot and freshman Kylee Johnson taking the prize for the No. 3 singles.
The return of sophomore Hayley Hall was also a breath of fresh air for the Cardinals. After suffering a back injury last spring, Hall had surgery during the summer and her future in tennis this season was left a bit unclear.
"It was great seeing her out there today," Bull said. "At one point, we thought we were going to have to put her on a medical redshirt, but Hayley at only 80 percent is still a darn good tennis player."
The Cardinals' victory celebration will be short-lived as they prepare to travel to Indiana University on Sunday to take on the No. 30 Hoosiers.
Although the Hoosiers are the only Big Ten team the Cardinals will face this season, Bull said, she finds them to be one of the more significant teams on their schedule because the light that might be shed on the Cardinals if they put in a strong performance.
"That is going to be one of the toughest days we have this season," Bull said. "We used to play four Big Ten teams, but now it's only IU, and if we want to get ranked we have to have teams like IU on the schedule."
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
