With its fourth win in a row, the Ball State University men's tennis team is starting to hit its stride.
"Everyone is getting more confident, hitting the ball well and improving their game," freshman Alexandre Brym said.
The team showed off its confidence Wednesday as they defeated Eastern Illinois University 6-1 at the Muncie Northwest YMCA Tennis Center.
The Cardinals (6-3) won all three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead into singles play. Ball State lost only one match in singles on its way to another strong performance.
"Weekday matches are a bit of a challenge," coach Bill Richards said. "The guys are in class all day and it is hard to get focused. We struggled early in doubles but worked through it to get all three matches. Overall, we did a good job tonight."
Nine games into the season, the team is starting to become more comfortable with their roles on the team.
"The sixth spot is still wide open, but our top five guys are starting to settle in," Richards said. "Guys that aren't playing all the time have had good attitudes and are team players. We have excellent depth on the team and all 12 guys are capable of contributions. There just isn't enough playing time for everyone."
For Brym, settling in has been a whole new experience. On Jan. 5, Brym came to Ball State from France to play on the team. Since then, he has been just been one of the guys on and off the court.
"I feel good with all the guys," Brym said. "I came later, but everyday we are kidding and joking around."
Brym has also been a big influence on the court for the Cardinals. Since his arrival, Brym has consistently competed in the top six in singles play.
"I feel better about my game now than before," he said. "It was a new atmosphere from France. It was never this intense there."
Ball State returns to action Saturday when they take on IUPUI and Detroit Mercy University in a doubleheader. The team is looking to extend its win streak to six matches as it ends its homestand.
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