In tournament play, it doesn't matter how you get in, just how you play once you're in.
No team knows this better than the Ball State women's tennis team now.
After winning just two of its last 17 matches, it would be hard to find many people willing to give the Cardinals a chance Thursday afternoon against the Toledo Rockets.
But Ball State, the ninth seed, pulled off an unlikely upset of the eighth seed, 4-3.
Ball State won the doubles point when the No. 2 seed of junior Paola Rodriguez and senior Sarah Hebble beat Toledo 9-7. They fell down 5-1 early, but came back to win the match.
"From a coaching point, super-stressful," coach Christine Bader said.
The No. 3 doubles team of senior Dena Boulieris and junior Lauren Pickrel won by default.
However, the No. 1 duo of freshmen Courtney Wild and Ashlyn Rang lost 8-1.
In singles, Wild beat Kelsey Anonsen 7-5, 7-5.
Toledo's Lexy Pitt beat Sarah Hebble in the first set, but Hebble rebounded to win the match 0-6, 6-0, 7-6. Bader was proud of her senior.
"Sarah did a really good job today," Bader said. "She played such a huge part in today's win."
No. 6 Pickrel won by default.
Ball State will attempt to pull off another upset Friday morning as they take on No. 1 seed Miami at 10 a.m.
Five days ago, Ball State lost 7-0 to Miami.
Bader thinks her team would have revenge on its mind for the match.
"I think that loss is still pretty fresh in our minds, we'll just get out there and be super-feisty tomorrow," Bader said.
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