Under the tutelage of second-year head coach Christine Bader, the Ball State women's tennis team will once again vie for a shot at the Mid-American Conference Championship this spring season.
Last year, the Cardinals finished the regular season 7-16 and defeated Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship before falling in the quarterfinals to No. 1 seed Miami (Ohio).
However, Bader sees improvement in her team's future.
"The expectation is just to get better with every match," Bader said. "We're starting off matches super-early, we only have a week and a half of practice under our belt, just as a team. My goal too is getting us better at doubles, I think. Starting off the match strong, taking that doubles, then finishing in singles."
For seniors like Sarah Hebble, Kylee Johnson and Dena Boulieris, who have played tennis all four years of their Ball State careers, this season is their last chance to make noise in the MAC.
Hebble said she wishes she had the knowledge she had now during her freshman year. Now, she knows exactly how to approach a season-opening match.
"Relax and think of it not as a match, but as just another day of tennis," she said.
However, for freshman Ashlyn Rang and Courtney Wild, 2012 is their first crack at spring tennis in their young careers.
Rang said her expectations for her first spring college season are to get some wins and to give it her all on every match.
Ball State will host IUPUI today. Last season, the Cardinals won the matchup, 6-1.
Today will be the first of a five game streak of matches played at home.
On Feb. 11, the team will travel to Bloomington, Ind., to take on Indiana University.
After a brief home match against Cleveland State, Ball State takes to the road for nine straight away matches. By the time they returns home, conference play will have begun.
The MAC Championship will be played at DeKalb, Ill., from April 26 to April 29.
"I think we can do a lot better than last season, I think we can get a lot more [wins], and I really expect us to win [today]," Hebble said.
Ball State hosts IUPUI at 6 p.m. in the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
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