Ball State University Athletics
Tennis Opens Fall Play at Milwaukee Classic
September 14, 2016 | Men's Tennis, Women's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's and women's tennis teams will open their fall campaigns this weekend at the 41st annual Milwaukee Tennis Classic. The event is hosted by Marquette University and held at the Town Club in Fox Point, Wisconsin (Sept. 16-18).
"The Milwaukee Classic is a unique event,” Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "It is hosted at the historic Town Club. It is a clay court event where the hospitality is incredible. All of the meals are provided at the Club and team members are housed in private housing by club members. We have made some great friendships with host families through the years. It will be especially enjoyable this year as our Women's team will also be participating. That will be a first for us to be playing in an event where our women are there as well. I think we are all very excited about that."
Five teams will be participating in the Milwaukee Tennis Classic. Marquette, Wisconsin and Ball State will all be represented by their men's and women's teams. Navy and Boise State will also be competing on the men's and women's side, respectively.
"Marquette, Navy and Wisconsin give a nice blend to the field on the men's side,” Richards said. "Wisconsin is a strong BIG Ten team, Marquette was runner up in the Big East last year, and Navy consistently wins the Patriot League and plays in the NCAA tournament. It will be a challenge for us to hold our own against those teams, but we are looking forward it. Our guys are excited to get the fall schedule started."
The tournament is held in a round-robin format of singles and doubles play with a point system in place. The player/doubles team with the most points come Sunday will be announced champion for men's singles/doubles and women's singles/doubles.
Ball State men's tennis will see a familiar face in Milwaukee as former player and alumnus Steve Redcap, is the head coach at Marquette. Rodecap played at Ball State from 1992-96 while helping the Cardinals to a trio of Mid-American Conference Championship titles (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95). The Anderson, Indiana, native is in his 14th season with the Golden Eagles.
The Milwaukee Tennis Classic begins on Friday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. (EST) with men's singles and women's doubles.
After the Milwaukee Tennis Classic, the Ball State men's and women's tennis teams will continue fall action throughout the month of October.
Men's Fall Schedule
Purdue Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind. (Sept. 23)
Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regionals in Knoxville, Tenn. (Oct. 20)
MAC Indoor Championships in Kalamazoo, Mich. (Oct. 28)
Women's Fall Schedule
Purdue Invite in West Lafayette, Ind. (Oct. 7)
University of Cincinnati Invite in Cincinnati, Ohio (Oct. 14)
Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regionals in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Oct. 20)
