It has been the goal of the Ball State University men's tennis team since the first practice in the fall: win the Mid-American Conference Championship.
The next step would be two victories on the road this weekend against the University at Buffalo and the University of Toledo. The two matches are the only away matches in conference play this season for Ball State.
"It's definitely a challenge," coach Bill Richards said. "It's a long trip, nothing you can do about it but just be ready to go."
Ball State will take on Buffalo on Friday and will then battle Toledo on Sunday during the return trip. Buffalo and Toledo have already played each other this season, resulting in a 6-1 victory for Toledo.
The Rockets have the best record in the MAC at 15-8 but have not defeated a ranked team or a Big Ten Conference school. The 9-8 Cardinals have the third best record in the conference but are also lacking a big win.
Buffalo - the only men's tennis team from the eastern side of the MAC - is 7-8 and has already dropped two conference matches this season. Ball State has only played one conference match this year with a 7-0 victory against last place Chicago State University.
The MAC regular season title represents the conference championship as a whole, but the MAC Tournament later in the month will determine who goes to the NCAA Tournament. Winning conference matches would help out the Cardinals seeding for the MAC Tournament.
"The regular season is for the conference championship," Richards said. "You get the ring and the banner. You have to approach it that every match is for the conference championship."
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