With the score tied at 3-3 on Friday in the first semifinal match of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, Ball State junior Dalton Albertin stood at the baseline, waiting for a return to come his way.
It had been an up-and-down year for the 21-year-old from Indianapolis, Ind., but a win against Buffalo's Vusa Hove would not only win the match for his team, but make all the struggles worthwhile.
After being down 4-1 in the third set, it looked as if Albertin's chances of victory were done.
Albertin, however, fought back and tied the score at 4-4.
Unfortunately for Albertin and the rest of the Ball State men's tennis team, the late rally wouldn't be enough to pull off another victory as it lost to Buffalo 4-3.
"We played great," head coach Bill Richards said. "We played a tough college tennis match and battled for four-and-a-half hours. We just came up short."
Ball State's loss to Buffalo eliminates them from contention in the conference tournament, meaning its season will end without a return trip to the NCAA Tournament.
At the start of its matchup with Buffalo, it looked as if Ball State would continue its path to another NCAA Tournament berth.
Albertin and freshman Ray Leonard defeated Wojtek Starakiewicz and Hove 8-2 in No. 1 doubles while seniors Zane Smith and Derek Carpenter defeated Damien David and Travis Zappia 9-8 (7-5) in No. 2 doubles.
"The doubles matches really set the tone for the match," Leonard said. "It became pretty apparent nothing was going to be given to us. We had to earn every single point. From then on, our attitude was just going out there and fight."
The Cardinals would extend their lead to 3-1 after Leonard and junior Alex Brym won their singles matches. Leonard defeated David 2-6, 6-0, 6-0 in No. 1 singles while Brym defeated Jason Shrodnik 6-3, 6-3 in No. 6 singles.
The lead would be short lived as Buffalo would win the final three singles matches and thus win the match.
Leonard said the season may be over, but there is nothing to be ashamed of.
"There are so many positives from this season that it would be ridiculous to start listing all of them off," he said. "I feel like everybody fought so hard this season, and we know what we can do now."
Ball State ends its season with a 4-3 record in MAC play and an 18-10 overall record.
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