Ball State University
Wright State University
Men’s Tennis Sweeps Wright State 7-0 For Richards 700th Career Win
February 01, 2020 | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - Longtime Ball State men's tennis coach Bill Richards etched himself into the men's tennis program record book once again by earning his 700th career victory today at home against Wright State. Richards, who is in his 48th season at the helm of the Cardinals, guided his team to a 7-0 victory over the Raiders Saturday afternoon at the Muncie YMCA Tennis Center.
Richards began his head coaching career with the Cardinals in 1973. The winningest men's tennis coach in Ball State and Mid-American Conference history, Richards has amassed a 700-431 (.618) overall record and a 217-64 (.772) conference ledger for his career. Richards has coached 17 teams to undefeated regular seasons and 38 MAC regular and or/ tournament championships, with the first conference title coming in 1984. Richards has also garnered MAC Coach of the Year accolades 15 times and has made eight NCAA appearances.
It wasn't easy, but the Cardinals managed to take the doubles point from the Raiders, giving BSU the 1-0 edge heading into singles play. The No. 3 twosome of Eli Herran and Bryce Bonin were knotted three games apiece against Wright State's William Morton and Leighton Brando. Herran and Bonin quickly moved ahead 4-3 and would go onto win the match 6-3. Wright State knotted doubles competition after taking court one away from the Cardinals. It would all come down to the wire, but the Ball State No. 2 doubles tandem of Thibault de Negri and Parrish Simmons clinched the point for BSU after some nice moves at the net from Simmons enabling the twosome to take the tiebreaker 7-6 (9-7).
In singles action, courts four, five and six took first sets over Wright State. Bryce Bonin and Eli Herran pushed the Cardinals lead to 3-0 after posting 6-1, 6-2 wins at the No. 6 and No. 5 positions, respectively. With Ball State needing only one more point to take the match from Wright State, Simmons would take down the Raiders J. Alvarez (6-2, 7-5) on court four to seal the victory.
The Ball State men's tennis team continues home play when it hosts Eastern Illinois Sunday, Feb. 2 at the Muncie Northwest YMCA. First serve is at 1 p.m.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's tennis team please follow, @BallStateSports and @BallStateMTNS.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1,2
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
6,5,4,2,3,1
Players Mentioned
