Through the frustration and disappointment, coach Kathy Bull found a positive note in how upset her team was Thursday.
The Ball State University women's tennis team lost 4-3 to Northern Illinois University in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, ending its season. The Cardinals had their chances - as they led 3-0 in the match - but they could not close out the win.
"We were so close and yet we don't get anything for it," Bull said. "It's very frustrating. We're a pretty down group of women right now."
While Bull was disappointed that her team could not seal the victory, she said, she found some comfort in the way the players reacted.
"From a coach's standpoint, it's actually good to see them as disappointed and as crushed as they are," she said.
Bull said the team's reaction to the loss showed her what she has seen throughout the season - that her team has the heart and desire to win. However, injuries and a lack of experience hindered the team enough that the Cardinals were eliminated from the MAC Tournament in the first round after finishing the regular season without a win in conference play, she said.
After the duo of freshmen Hanna Oman and sophomore Hayley Hall won at No. 3 doubles, the tandem of sophomore Georgina Thomson and freshman Dena Boulieris won at No. 1 singles to clinch the doubles point and give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
"We has some real pleasant surprises," Bull said. "We won the doubles point, quite convincingly."
The freshmen team of Sarah Hebble and Kylee Johnson trailed 6-4 at No. 2 doubles, but the match was not finished as the Cardinals had already won the doubles point. The win at doubles was Ball State's first in MAC play since March 30, 2007.
"We knew we weren't going to get to celebrate it for very long," Bull said. "We knew we had our hands full. We had to get back out there, so we really haven't gone back and touched on it than that probably two minutes or so at the end of the match."
In singles play, Oman won at the No. 5 spot to increase the Ball State lead to 2-0. Boulieris then picked up a victory at No. 2 singles - her first career victory in a MAC event - to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.
However, Ball State was unable to hold onto the victory.
Thomson lost at No. 6 singles 6-4, 7-5 as Northern Illinois took its first point of the day. Hall then lost at No. 4 singles 6-2, 6-3, and the Huskies pulled within one point of the Cardinals.
Bull said injuries plagued Hall and Thomson during their singles matches, much like they had all season.
"It's kind of rough because it plays against my game," Hall said. "It's hard to move with my back injury and my strength's always been moving."
The Huskies tied up the match at 3-3 when Hebble lost at the No. 1 spot in three sets 6-4, 3-6, 6-0. A loss at No. 3 singles by Johnson 6-4, 6-7 (7-1), 6-2 sealed the win for Northern Illinois and knocked Ball State out of the tournament.
"We had two, three other opportunities where it went into three sets," Bull said. "We just couldn't quite get either one of those. It was frustrating."
After the Cardinals could not close out the win, Bull said, it became apparent that they have to spend the summer improving their fitness and strength if they want to compete in the MAC.
"They've got great attitudes and spirt, and they're willing to do anything we ask them to do," she said. "But they've got to be able to sustain it for a long day because it's a very physical game."
Hall said the players have already talked about getting back onto the court together to compete this summer. The team also has to work on getting healthy from the injuries that plagued them all season, she said.
With the team's youth - as it was comprised of a senior, two sophomores and six freshmen - Bull said she envisions the Cardinals improving over the next few years and becoming a team that can compete in the MAC.
"Our top three players played really well today - three freshmen out there battling upperclassmen," she said. "So if they can keep their head on straight, and I'm pretty sure they will, I think the sky is the limit."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
