Every new school year means a new athletic season and with the No. 18 ranked recruiting class, a second-year coach Christine Bader, the Ball State women's tennis team looks to improve on last season's record of 8-17.
The Cardinals are coming off of a positive offseason after signing two highly ranked recruits Ashlyn Rang and Courtney Wild for the 2011-2012 season. Both recruits are from Indiana.
Bader believes the two recruits will represent Ball State well.
"I'm pumped," Bader said, "I think not only did we get two kids that are very skilled on the tennis court, they are also two great people."
The Cardinals are hoping Wild, a four-star recruit from Carmel, Ind. will make an immediate impact on the tennis court. Wild has been ranked in the top 100 since her freshman year of high school and has compiled a record of 73-7. During her sophomore and junior years, Wild helped the Greyhounds win back-to-back state championships.
Wild has also competed in United States Tennis Association events. She finished in the top 16 out of 128 in the USTA Midwest Sectional Qualifier.
"I'm really excited about Courtney Wild, she has a heart of gold," Bader said. "Courtney comes from a very well known tennis family and brings a different element to the this team."
Rang graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne, Ind. where she put together a record of 66-4. Rang had her best season as a junior when she posted a 20-2 record in No. 1 singles and was named First Team Summit Athletic Conference, First Team All-Area, First Team All-District and Second Team All-State.
During her four years at Bishop Dwenger, Rang helped win three SAC championships and two sectional championships in 2008 and 2010.
"I'm trying to recruit kids with the whole package," said Bader, "Ones that are talented on the tennis court but also are very respectful and are respected off the court. I definitely think Ashlyn will represent Ball State very well."
Ball State is one of two schools from the Mid-American Conference with nationally ranked recruiting classes. Miami has the seventh ranked recruiting class. Ball State was also the only school from Indiana to have a nationally ranked recruiting class.
After winning only one conference match and a second round exit in the MAC Tournament, the Cardinals look to improve in conference play and go deeper in the conference tournament.
Bader stresses that the team focuses on building on what they have learned in previous matches and practices.
"I think last year was a really good building year for this team," she said. "We want to continue to build on what we have learned and hopefully it will produce more wins."
This fall, Ball State will be competing in the MAC Fall Invitational, Ohio Valley Regional and the Ball State Invitational, which will be held on October 17.
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