The Ball State University men's tennis team will travel west this weekend not in search of gold but in search of a different form of treasure: a win against a quality team.
The 8-6 Cardinals have had their way with teams they were expected to beat but haven't beat a quality team all year. That could change this weekend in the Boise State Invitational in Boise, Idaho.
"As far as our non-conference schedule is concerned, this is a good opportunity," coach Bill Richards said.
The Cardinals are guaranteed three matches in the eight-team tournament.
No. 23 Boise State University and No. 44 University of Nebraska are the frontrunners as they are the only ranked teams in the field.
That doesn't mean those two schools will coast to the finals. Sacramento State University, the University of Memphis and the University of South Alabama all have nationally ranked players on their rosters.
Fresno Pacific University is the No. 2 ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics school in the country and will compete against seven Division I schools. Idaho State University enters the invitational winless on the year.
"Any time you can be a part of a tournament it helps with recruiting and allows us to see different teams," Richards said. "It also gives a tournament feel before the conference tournament where it really is won and done."
The Cardinals will compete against Memphis in the first round at noon on Friday. The Tigers have a better record of 12-8 than the Cardinals. A victory against Memphis would be Ball State's first victory against a team with a winning record.
Ball State has had chances against quality teams in losses to Michigan State University and Purdue University earlier in the season.
If the Cardinals were to beat the Tigers, they would likely face No. 23 Boise later in the day. A loss to Memphis will send Ball State to the consolation bracket where it would likely face Idaho State.
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