Ball State University Athletics
Men's Tennis Loses To WMU In MAC Tourney Title Match
April 30, 2016 | Men's Tennis
AURORA, Ill. - The third-seeded Ball State men's tennis team suffered a 4-0 loss to top-seeded Western Michigan in the 2016 Mid-American Conference Tournament title match Saturday afternoon at the Vaughn Tennis Center.
"Western Michigan has been the best team all year and they didn't falter today," Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "Credit to them. I'm proud of our guys for the way finished the season but it's always disappointing to lose a championship match. I think the Buffalo win yesterday drained us some both physically and emotionally and we didn't quite have the energy we needed today but Western Michigan had a lot to do with that."
It was the first time since 2014 that the Cardinals had returned to the MAC Tournament Championship match, when Ball State won the title at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center.
Western Michigan took the early 1-0 edge over the Cardinals after winning on courts one and three while leading 5-1 over Lucas Andersen and Patrick Downs at the No. 2 position.
In singles action, Western Michigan took straight set victories over Ball State on courts three, two and four to clinch the match and the MAC Tournament title. Nemanja and Marko Guzina each led in their respective positions both winning their first sets.
For the Cardinals, twin brothers Nemanja and Marko Guzina each were named to the All-MAC Tournament team.
Western Michigan 4, Ball State 0
Doubles
1. Payne/Greiner (WMU) def. Stutz/C. Andersen (BSU), 6-1
2. Steiner/Hamilton (WMU) led L. Andersen/Downs (BSU), 5-1, unfinished
3. Kecic/Beckwith (WMU) def. Helm/M. Guzina (BSU), 6-3
Singles
1. Jefta Kecic (WMU) led Lucas Andersen (BSU), 7-6, 1-0, unfinished
2. Maik Steiner (WMU) def. Andrew Stutz (BSU), 6-2, 6-4
3. Nemanja Guzina (BSU) led Matt Hamilton (WMU), 7-6, 2-1, unfinished
4. Ruben Greiner (WMU) def. Patrick Downs (BSU), 6-2, 6-3
5. Daniel Loebel (WMU) def. Conner Andersen (BSU), 6-1, 6-3
6. Marko Guzina (BSU) led Andrew Cahn (WMU), 6-3, 5-2, unfinished
All-Tournament Team
Eliott Hureau, Binghamton
Akhil Mehta, Buffalo
Nemanja Guzina, Ball State
Marko Guzina, Ball State
Jefta Kecic, Western Michigan (Most Outstanding Player)
Daniel Loebel, Western Michigan
