Ball State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Team Earns MAC Postseason Awards
May 02, 2006 | Men's Tennis
Ball State senior Matt Baccarani (Toronto, Ont./Silverthorn C.I.) has been named the 2006 Mid-American Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Year, announced today by the league office. Baccarani competed as Ball State's No. 1 singles player in each match he competed in during the 2006 campaign. He posted a 14-5 record from the top spot in singles play, including a 4-0 slate versus league opponents. He was 17-2 in doubles during dual competition this season. Baccarani, who is currently ranked No. 104 nationally, has also been selected as an All-MAC First Team recipient this spring, marking the fourth-straight year he has garnered the honor.
Junior Joe Epkey (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove H.S.) joins Baccarani on the All-MAC First Team. Epkey was a mainstay for the Cardinals in singles play, playing primarily at the No. 2 position, where he accumulated an 11-7 overall singles mark. Epkey also posted a 19-3 record in doubles play during the spring season. He and Baccarani went a perfect 15-0 from the No. 1 slot, including 5-0 against league competition.
Two seniors -- Tony Epkey (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove H.S.) and Patrick Thompson (Medina, Ohio/Medina Senior H.S.) -- were awarded with All-MAC Second Team distinction. In addition, Epkey earned the MAC's Sportsmanship Award. During his senior campaign, Epkey competed primarily in the No. 3 singles slot, where he tallied a 10-8 mark, including a 4-1 record versus league opponents. He added success in doubles play, registering a 19-4 tally at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions.
Thompson earns second team honors for the third-straight year after finishing with a 19-5 singles record, splitting time at the No. 2 through No. 5 slots. At one point during the 2006 season, he rode a 14-match winning streak in singles play. He combined for a 12-8 doubles mark. He and Baccarani currently rank No. 15 nationally in doubles competition and ranked as high as No. 4 in the first poll of the season Jan. 10.
Ball State captured its 19th-straight MAC Championship with a perfect 5-0 slate. The 66th-ranked Cardinals turned in a runner-up finish at the league tournament to finish 19-7 overall.
