The Ball State University women's tennis team found itself with a rare break from competition last week.
With the mounting injuries and illnesses the team was facing, the break could not have come at a better time.
Sophomore No. 1 singles and No. 2 doubles player Sophie Quist, for example, was able to rest her nagging shoulder.
"Tendonitis has been a very frustrating battle, especially as I love competing," Quist said. "Spring Break came at the most perfect time for me, as my shoulder had been really awful the last week-and-a-half of non-conference season, so hopefully this break has calmed it down."
Other players used the time off for different reasons. Seniors and team captains Jennifer Pollack and Haly Calderwood said they were able to catch up on school work during Spring Break.
"I hope [the break] will provide us a chance to get healthy and regroup," Pollack said. "Hopefully we will all come back refreshed and mentally prepared for conference matches."
Before the break began, however, the Cardinals' No. 1 doubles team was also able to school the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with their 8-1 win against the Panthers' Kelly Drvaric and Kari Kastenholz on March 7.
The Cardinals (7-4) were also able to spoil the Panthers' (9-7) four-match winning streak with their 5-2 victory. The match also marked the end of the non-conference season for Ball State.
"The Milwaukee match was a good one to end on - our team played pretty solid," Calderwood said. "I felt really good in that last match and am confident for the [conference] season ahead."
Ball State's freshmen continued their hot play of late against the Panthers. Hayley Hall and Georgina Thomson both claimed singles victories for their fifth-consecutive wins.
The refreshed Cardinal team opens its conference season Saturday as it plays host to Miami University at 1 p.m.
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