Women?s Tennis Hosts Dayton In Season Opener

MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State University women's tennis team will open the 2009 season at the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center Saturday against Dayton beginning at 1 p.m.

The Cardinals opened last season with a 6-1 win over Dayton. Ball State returns three letterwinners and welcomes six freshmen to the 2008-09 squad. The Cardinals played in three fall tournaments to prepare for the spring season.

“We had our share of challenges this fall, with the physicality and the amount of thought is required for the game of tennis,” said Ball State head coach Kathy Bull. “ These are the aspects we focused our attention on, especially physical strength that is needed, working a better understanding of the game and learning how to part of a strong team.”

Bull, who enters her 21^st year as the Ball State women's tennis coach, is only one of four head coaches at Ball State that has been at the helm of their programs for 20 plus years.

Ball State women's tennis will host Wright State after the Dayton match Thursday, Jan. 22. The Cardinals end non-conference action at St. Louis Feb. 27-28 before opening Mid-American Conference play at home against Northern Illinois March 20.

“Our spring non-conference season will give us plenty of good competition to get ready for the MAC,” said Bull. “These young women need to get comfortable on the court in tough situations. When you begin conference play the battles are always close and very emotional. Our rookies will have there hands full from their first match to their last. This is a team preparing for the future. There is no set time schedule for this process. Some will be ready sooner than others. The Cardinals will need to fight and scrape for everything this spring.”

Ball State University Athletics

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