Ball State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Hosts Detroit Saturday In Season Opener
January 16, 2015 | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team will open the 2015 spring season at home Saturday, when it hosts Detroit Mercy at 2 p.m. in the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
The Cardinals will play three doubles and six singles matches Saturday. Last season Ball State swept Detroit 3-0 in its 2014 season opener.
Head Coach Bill Richards begins his 43rd season at the helm of the Cardinals. Ball State posted a 14-12 overall record in the spring of 2014. The Cardinals were crowned Mid-American Conference Tournament Champions last season after clinching a 4-3 victory over Buffalo in the championship match. The MAC Tournament crown was the first time the Cardinals had been to the final match of the MAC Tournament since the 2011 season when Ball State won the title at Western Michigan's Sorenson Courts. Ball State has now won 21 MAC titles in program history, including 17 undefeated MAC seasons. Ball State has participated in the MAC for the last 34 years, claiming 38 regular season and/ or tournament championships. Since the MAC tournament format started in 1997, the Cardinals have won the league tournament seven times (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011 and 2014). Ball State has also participated in the NCAA Tournament eight times.
The Cardinals return six letterwinners from last season. Ball State welcomes back seniors Ray Leonard and Patrick Elliott, along with sophomore Lucas Andersen. Leonard was named All-MAC First Team for the third straight season. Elliott and Andersen both garnered All-MAC second team honors for the first time in their careers. Sophomores Patrick Downs, Matt Helm and Andrew Stutz also return to the line-up this season. Ball State also welcomes three newcomers', Jan Jirus, Patrick O'Connor and Collin Rigney.
The Ball State men's tennis team continues spring action when it plays two matches Friday, Jan. 23 in Champaign, Ill. The Cardinals will take on Wisconsin-Green Bay at 10:00 a.m. and will close the day with a match against Big Ten foe Illinois at 7 p.m.
