Earning the doubles point at the beginning of a match can pay huge dividends.
The victory means that a team needs to win three singles matches instead of four to win the meet. Ball State University coach Kathy Bull stresses the importance of winning the doubles point, which was the Cardinals' focus Monday and Tuesday as the team prepared for Wednesday's match against IPFW.
For Bull, finding the right combinations in doubles play is still a work in progress. After sweeping all three matches against Wright State University, the Cardinals failed to win a single set against DePaul University and Indiana University.
"That has always been one of our mainstays," Bull said. "It's something we take a lot of pride in. I felt like that hasn't clicked in yet."
The Cardinals will stay with the same doubles lineup used against Indiana. Haly Calderwood and Jennifer Pollack will team up at No. 1; Sophie Quist and Christine Stromberg at No. 2; and Stephanie Farrar and Polina Askerko at No. 3.
Specifically, Ball State has been working on covering the baseline and placement of shots, something junior Stephanie Farrar said the team has struggled with this year.
"I'm not sure what the problem is," Farrar said. "I don't know if we're not thinking or if we're not giving 100 percent on the court, but I'm not sure what the main reason is. The thing that should be our bread and butter isn't."
IPFW is 3-4 on the year. One of the Mastadons' victories is a 4-3 decision over Wright State, a team Ball State defeated 6-1 to start the season.
"We're looking forward to being home," Bull said. "We're looking forward to playing a little bit better than we have in the last couple outings."
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