Despite having multiple players reach the finals in their respective groups, Ball State failed to have any overall winners to end its fall season in Florida.
Sophomore Courtney Wild reached the finals in the No. 1 singles draw after a two-set win to open the draw. Wild then dropped the first set in the semi-finals 6-0 but rebounded in the next two sets to reach the final. However, she fell in two straight sets against Barry’s Linda Fritschken (6-4, 6-1).
In No. 2 singles draw, junior Kristel Sanders reached the final round but Air Force’s Hannah Dake beat her in straight sets (6-0, 6-2) early Sunday morning.
But senior Paola Rodriguez defeated Gimena Puppo of Youngstown State (7-6 (8-3), 6-2) in a close match to win the No. 3 singles draw consolation title.
Junior Lauren Pickrel finished in third place in the No. 4 singles draw after defeating Florida International’s Magali Holt (6-2, 6-2).
In doubles, Ball State didn’t fare as well.
Wild and freshman Bethany Moore advanced to the consolation final but were defeated 8-4 by Florida International’s pair.
Moore did manage to make an impact in singles play after an impressive come from behind victory in No. 3 singles draw. Moore split the first two sets and had to put away Air Force’s Anastasia Hueffner 10-5 in the final set.
Ball State will have a long wait before it plays again. The Cardinals will be back on the courts on Jan. 19 at the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center, where it will be hosting IUPUI to open 2013.
