Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
University of Notre Dame
Men’s Tennis Opens Spring Season With Two Matches At Notre Dame Wednesday
January 19, 2021 | Men's Tennis
The Cardinals will play the Irish at noon and 5 p.m. ET in the Eck Tennis Pavillion
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team will finally spring back into action after its hiatus due to the COVID-19 global pandemic when it travels to the University of Notre Dame Wednesday for a double header. First serve is scheduled for noon while the second match is slated to begin at 5 p.m. ET at the Eck Tennis Pavilion.
This is the 50th meeting of all-time between the two programs and 14th season in a row dating back to 2006-07 that the Irish and the Cardinals have competed against one another. The first meeting between the two schools' was on May 16, 1970, resulting in an 8-1 loss for Ball State.
The Ball State men's tennis team's 2020 spring season was officially canceled in mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cardinals wrapped up last year's action with an 8-5 overall mark while closing out spring play on a high note after posting a 6-1 win at UC San Diego in their last competition on March 8.
Despite the season coming to an early close, the Cardinals had successfully taken the doubles point from 11 of their 13 opponents, including Big Ten foe Michigan State on Jan. 25, 2020. The doubles tandem of Thibault de Negri and Parrish Simmons led Ball State in doubles play with an unblemished 7-0 ledger. The twosome played mainly at the No. 2 position, owning a 6-0 mark on court two while also pairing up for a win at the No. 1 position against IU Southeast.
Simmons claimed his first Mid-American Conference Men's Tennis Player of the Week honor on Feb. 19, 2020. He earned the award after registering a match-clinching victory against Cleveland State. He defeated Kade Mindry in a three-set thriller, winning the third frame, 7-6 (5), to secure a 4-3 victory for Ball State. Simmons and fellow freshman Vince Orlando led the Cardinals in dual action with 9-4 overall singles records.
Longtime coach Bill Richards etched his name further into the Ball State men's tennis record book by earning his 700th career victory Feb. 1, 2020 at home against Wright State. Richard, guided his team to a 7-0 victory over the Raiders.
Richards is the winningest men's tennis coach in Ball State and Mid-American Conference history, Richards has amassed a 705-434 (.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 tournament appearances.
For the most up-to-date news on the Ball State men's tennis team, please follow @BallStateSports and @BallStateMTNS.
