After falling to nationally ranked UNLV in Las Vegas on March 7, the Ball State men’s tennis team has rattled off five straight victories. Wins have come against Xavier, Butler and Toledo. The team will look to continue its longest winning streak of the season when it goes up against in-state rival Notre Dame today.
Ball State defeated Toledo 5-2 on Saturday to begin Mid-American Conference play, but will deviate from conference play for one game to face the Notre Dame.
The Irish arrive in Muncie as the No. 27 team in the nation. Notre Dame has defeated six nationally ranked teams this season, highlighted by wins against No. 13 Illinois and No. 21 Michigan. The team also knocked off ranked Michigan State, a team that beat Ball State 6-1 earlier this season.
There is no doubt that the Irish are the toughest team the Cardinals will have faced so far this season. Fortunately for coach Bill Richards; the Cardinals are playing their best tennis of the season. They battled through an early season injury bug but are hitting their stride at the perfect moment.
The Cardinals seemed unfazed by their longest road trip of the season, winning all three matches in close fashion. They took the doubles point in two of those three matches, which is a big key for the Cardinals against the Irish. Getting the lead early and taking that momentum into singles action is the recipe for an upset victory.
The Cardinals will need their best effort of the season if they intend to send the Irish back to South Bend, Ind., with only their second loss of the season to an unranked team.
