For the first time since 2005, unlikely No. 4 seed Ball State is the Mid-American Conference Tournament champion.
The Cardinals capped off a three day run in Kalamazoo, Mich. beating No. 2 seed Toledo 4-1 Saturday.
"Given the year we had with us being the 4 seed this is one of the more special ones," coach Bill Richards said. "For our guys to pick it up at the right time and believe we can get this done makes it one of the most special ones we've had."
Richards and Ball State used to be the MAC powerhouse but over the last five years the Cardinals have been displaced to the passenger seat as Western Michigan won the last five MAC Tournament crowns.
Ball State has had to watch Western Michigan win the previous five MAC Tournaments.
This year's tournament belonged to Ball State.
"It feels good," Richards said. "Everybody did a great a job. We controlled the match."
Against Toledo, Ball State won No. 2 doubles 8-5 with juniors Derek Carpenter and Zane Smith and No. 3 doubles 8-5 with Senior Shaun Bussert and sophomore Austin Sansone.
Sansone was the first to win in singles winning at No. 6 6-2, 6-1. Sansone was named to MAC All-Tournament team.
"I was able to put more balls in on the court than the other guy," Sansone said. "I didn't do anything special. It was a great team effort. The difference in the tournament was getting the doubles point."
Junior Cliff Morrison won at No. 3 singles 7-5, 6-2. Morrison was named Most Outstanding Player in the tournament.
Junior Andres Monroy won at No. 4 6-4, 6-4 for the final point.
Sansone, Morrison and Monroy all won their singles matches Friday in Ball State's 4-3 upset over No. 1 seed Western Michigan too.
"I had confidence in my guys that they were going to get it done," Sansone said.
Ball State defeated No. 5 Northern Illinois Thursday 4-0 in the first round. The Cardinals finished the Regular season 12-14 (2-3 MAC), but that did not impact their MAC Tournament run. Ball State lost to Western Michigan 7-0 and Toledo 4-3 in the regular season.
Ball State is one the youngest teams in the MAC Tournament with no seniors in the singles line-up. The Cardinals did not play a senior in their singles line-up. Sophomore Dalton Albertin played No. 1 singles after missing the week in practice with a fever and sore throat.
"We will get better next year while a lot of other guys in the MAC graduate," Albertin said.
Ball State advances to the NCAA Tournament which begins May 13. The Cardinals will be informed of who they play and where Tuesday.
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