After defeating Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship last year, the Ball State men’s tennis team enters the 2014-15 season with high expectations.
The Cardinals return many players from its 2013 championship roster, but head coach Bill Richards doesn't yet want his team looking ahead to conference play.
“The fall is very developmental, just trying to get a lot of experience, work on individual weaknesses, and make everyone get better as we move forward,” Richards said.
Coming off of its third tournament of the fall season, Richards wants to see his players progress and improve from an individual standpoint, so when the MAC tournament begins, they will be ready.
This year's returning players give the Cardinals experience and talent that will have a chance to repeat last season's success.
Seniors Patrick Elliott and Ray Leonard are taking on a new role this year, as they bring leadership to Ball State's team. It is a new transition for the upperclassmen, but they understand it’s a challenge they must accept.
“It’s definitely different. When I came in I had some good senior leaders that I looked up to,” Elliott said. “They set a good example for me, and I want to do the same for the freshmen this season.”
Elliott earned All-MAC Second Team honors in 2013 with a 15-6 dual mark. In the annual Ball State Fall Invitational this season, Elliott went to the championship match, but he eventually lost.
Leonard was able to win the consolation Flight A bracket, after defeating his own teammate, sophomore Patrick Downs. Last year, Leonard was named to the All-MAC First Team for the consecutive year.
Downs will be another key piece for the Cardinals this season, as he helped guide them to the MAC title.
Elliott knows it will be a challenge to repeat as MAC champions.
“Our team is still growing, it’s going to be a long grinding season,” Elliott said.
This year the Cardinals have three freshmen led by Collin Rigney. Rigney advanced to the championship round in the Flight B bracket, where he lost in three sets.
After the Ball State Fall Invitational, Elliott is confident in what the freshmen are capable of doing this season.
“They’re good, Rigney had a good showing in the tournament this weekend,” he said. “They’re all still learning, it’s a big jump from high school to college tennis.”
With experience and leadership from its seniors and a group of upcoming freshmen, the Cardinals look prepared to return to the NCAA tournament.
“By the time we reach the important matches, all the pieces will fall together,” Elliott said.
The Ball State men's tennis team returns to action on Oct. 16 at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals in Nashville, Tennessee.
Upcoming Matches
| Date: | Opponent: | Location: | Time: | |||
| Thu, Oct 16 - Sun, Oct 19 | ITA Ohio Valley Regionals | Nashville, Tenn. | TBA | |||
| Fri, Oct 31 - Sun, Nov 02 | Mid-American Conference Indoor Championship | Kalamazoo, Mich. | TBA | |||
| Sat, Jan 17 | Detroit Mercy | Muncie, Ind. | 2:00 p.m. | |||
| Fri, Jan 23 | Illinois | Champaign, Ill. | 6:00 p.m. | |||
| Sun, Jan 25 | Eastern Illinois | Muncie, Ind. | 1:00 p.m. | |||
| Sun, Jan 25 | Anderson University | Muncie, Ind. | 6:00 p.m. | |||
| Fri, Jan 30 | Cleveland State | Cleveland, Ohio | 6:00 p.m. | |||
| Sat, Feb 07 | Michigan State | Muncie, Ind. | 1:00 p.m. | |||
| Sat, Feb 07 | Indiana Tech | Muncie, Ind. | 6:00 p.m. | |||
| Sun, Feb 08 | Notre Dame | Notre Dame, Ind. | TBA | |||
| Fri, Feb 13 | Xavier | Muncie, Ind. | 2:00 p.m. | |||
| Sun, Feb 22 | Wright State | Dayton, Ohio | 10:00 a.m. | |||
| Fri, Feb 27 | Wisconsin Green Bay | Muncie, Ind. | TBA | |||
| Fri, Mar 06 | Belmont | Nashville, Tenn. | TBA | |||
| Sat, Mar 07 | Libscomb | Nashville, Tenn. | TBA | |||
| Sun, Mar 08 | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | 4:30 p.m. | |||
| Fri, Mar 13 | IUPUI | Muncie, Ind. | 3:00 p.m. | |||
| Sun, Mar 15 | Indiana | Bloomington, Ind. | 5:00 p.m. | |||
| Sat, Mar 21 | Illinois State | Normal, Ill. | 1:00 p.m. | |||
| Fri, Mar 27 | Toledo (Conference game) | Toledo, Ohio | 1:00 p.m. | |||
| Wed, Apr 01 | Butler | Indianapolis, Ind. | 2:00 p.m. | |||
| Sat, Apr 04 | Northern Illinois (Conference game) | Muncie, Ind. | 3:00 p.m. | |||
| Sat, Apr 11 | Western Michigan (Conference game) | Muncie, Ind. | 2:00 p.m. | |||
| Fri, Apr 17 | Buffalo (Conference game) | Buffalo, NY | 2:00 p.m. | |||
| Sun, Apr 19 | Binghamton | Binghamton, NY | TBA | |||
| Fri, Apr 24 - Sat, Apr 25 | Mid-American Conference Tournament | DeKalb, Ill. | TBA |
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