In its final home match of the season, the Ball State men's tennis team went out on a high note, beating winless Chicago State 7-0 Sunday.
Even though the victory came against a winless team, it could help Ball State find its confidence again after losing to Western Michigan 7-0 Saturday. The loss eliminated the Cardinals from Mid-American Conference title consideration.
"It was a match where we just had to take care of business," coach Bill Richards said.
The win came a day after Richards described the team's doubles performance against Western Michigan as "disgraceful."
Richards said the win over Chicago State didn't take the sting out of the loss to Western Michigan.
Chicago State carried a roster of five players in the match, meaning No. 6 singles was forfeited to Ball State, as was No. 3 doubles.
Chicago State's No. 5 player was picked up from the track team so the tennis team would have at least five players.
"Their coach is trying to build a program there and having a lot of difficulties," Richards said. "They've never had six guys. They are down and everyone knows that, so it was a different kind of match."
The outcome was never in doubt. Ball State won all five singles matches with four ending in straight sets.
The only contested match was at No. 2 doubles, where sophomore Alexandre Brym won a third set tiebreaker 10-7 after trailing 1-5.
Junior Zane Smith sat out for a second straight match with an ankle injury.
"It's a torn Achilles," Smith said. "Hopefully I'll be ready for the MAC tournament."
Ball State's focus will shift to playing Buffalo Friday in a chance to secure the No. 3 seed in the MAC.
"Right now the focus is Buffalo," Richards said. "[We'll] try to get the win there so we can get the three seed instead of the four seed. If we get the three seed, we play Chicago State. If we get the four seed, we play Northern Illinois.
"It is kind of a night and day difference."
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