This weekend, coach Bill Richards expects the men's tennis team to win - even after a three month layoff. Ball State University will play two home matches this weekend, one against IUPUI Saturday, and the other against DePaul University, Sunday.
After an impressive fall season, senior Joe Epkey and juniors Jarrod Epkey and Aaron Philips will enter the spring season as the top three players for the Cardinals, Richards said. Joe Epkey had a fall season that included victories over nationally ranked opponents in singles play.
Joe Epkey said he wants to set the tone for the entire team. As a team, he said the Cardinals want to win the Mid-American Conference and make the NCAA tournament.
"I want to be intense right off the bat," Joe Epkey said. "Getting leads, early leads, to help boost the team's confidence and let them know I'm gonna win."
Since the conclusion of the fall season, Joe Epkey said he has practiced with his friend and former high school teammate Evan West, who currently plays tennis for Butler University. He also said that he practiced with Philips and his brother Jarrod.
NCAA regulations do not allow the team to have organized team practices over the break so the individuals were responsible for their own workouts.
The team had its first organized practice since the end of the fall season on Monday. Richards said he is happy with the individual progress of the players as everyone came into the spring season in good physical condition after the break. He also said this first week is difficult for the team as players try to adjust to and make changes in their new class schedules.
Despite the difficulties, the Cardinals expect to come away with wins this weekend.
"We definitely can't overlook [IUPUI and DePaul] but at the same time, we have to know that we are better than them," Joe Epkey said.
Freshmen Bret Berryman and Tetta Oyama have the edge to be the number four and five singles players, though nothing is guaranteed, Richards said. The team's four through ten players are all close in ability and should see playing time this weekend, Richards said.
"All ten guys on our team are fully capable of playing," he said.
Richards said Daniel Vidal is the only player on the roster who will not see time this weekend. Vidal is recovering from an October ankle surgery and Richards said Vidal may petition the NCAA for a medical red-shirt this season.
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