Today, Ball State lost 7-0 against the University of Notre Dame in a two-hour contest that saw the Cardinals’ singles win at least four games in a set just twice. It’s the second time that the team has been swept this season.
The meet began with doubles play where the Cardinals debuted the same three double partnerships as last week. Juniors Elena Malykh and Ella Hazelbaker, sophomores Annika Planinsek and Sydney Hrehor, and last, freshmen Isabelle Tanjuatco and Sarah Shahbaz.
Here, the freshmen and junior pairings each lost their matches 6-1 while the sophomore pair fought to reach a 4-3 advantage before doubles play was halted.
Heading into singles, the Cardinals found themselves in the same boat, with Shahbaz, Hrehor, and Tanjuatco all winning two games or less in their first and second sets. Hrehor would take one game in her first set, but her opponent would bagel -- win 6-0 -- her in the second.
This would be the first of six single losses on the day for the Cardinals.
For the freshmen, they would also go on to lose their singles matches after each winning just two games in their first sets and one in their second sets. Planinsek won four games in her 16-game match, one coming in the first set and the remaining three in the second.
In the second set, she countered more effectively, which forced her opponent to play with poor spacing. This caused her to hustle after the ball. Yet, Planinsek could not pull away for a victory.
Malykh and Hazelbaker each lost their singles matches after winning four games in their first sets, but just one in the second sets.
Kirtane and the team have remained optimistic about the season regardless of their current three-game slump, referencing the resilience and fight within the Cardinals.
While Ball State continues to fight in each of its early season performances, the final push to secure victories has yet to be achieved.
The Cardinals return home Sunday, Feb. 11th at 1 p.m. to take on Oakland University with hopes of breaking their current losing streak.
The Ball State Daily News requested to speak to the team after the match, but that request was never answered.
Contact Trinity Rea via email at trinity.rea@bsu.edu or on X @thetrinityrea.
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