Sunday, February 28
Muncie, Ind.
1 p.m.
Ball State University
6
vs
1
Western Kentucky University
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Women’s Tennis Blitzes Western Kentucky 6-1 for Seventh Straight Win
February 28, 2021 | Women's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. -- The Ball State women's tennis team handled Western Kentucky, 6-1, Sunday afternoon to run its winning streak to seven straight.
The Cardinals (7-2) won a tight doubles point from a WKU team (1-6) that had a winning record in doubles and then came out firing in singles.
"We were excited for the opportunity because we've been really trying to work on doubles to try to get pairings right," BSU head coach Max Norris said. "They had a good doubles team, and we had to really earn that point, so we were excited about that."
Livia Lukacs played in a big role in getting the Cardinals off on the right foot. With the pressure on early, the junior from Hungary served out a decisive 7-5 doubles victory with teammate Victoria Sec to secure the opening point of the day. She then breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles to stake BSU to a fast, 2-0 lead.
"Livia just did what she always does," Norris said. "I've said this jokingly, every day is Wimbledon to Livia, even at practice. She played with a ton of intensity and just really brought it."
Ball State also picked up quick, 6-2, 6-2 singles victories from Amy Kaplan at No. 4 and Mariya Polishchuk at No. 2 to clinch the team victory over WKU early on. Kaplan had previously teamed with Emma Peeler for the Cardinals' other doubles victory.
The other three singles matches went deeper, but the Cardinals were able to win two of them. Jessica Braun was a 7-5, 6-4 winner at No. 3, and Rebecca Herrington dug deep to pull out a 10-5 match tiebreaker for a third set at No. 5.
The only singles defeat came at the top spot in the lineup where Peeler dug out of an early hole to force a match tiebreaker before falling 10-8 in a tight one.
Ball State is now halfway through a six-match homestand. The Cardinals are slated to return to action Friday at 6 p.m. against Butler as they seek eight in a row.
"We've been lucky to play some decent teams and have our players get tested in different ways," Norris said. "I think our players recognize that, and I think they are gaining confidence. We know we still have a lot of work to do. We know there are scouting reports out on us now, so we need to play a lot better. But I do think we feel like we're headed in the right direction."
The Cardinals (7-2) won a tight doubles point from a WKU team (1-6) that had a winning record in doubles and then came out firing in singles.
"We were excited for the opportunity because we've been really trying to work on doubles to try to get pairings right," BSU head coach Max Norris said. "They had a good doubles team, and we had to really earn that point, so we were excited about that."
Livia Lukacs played in a big role in getting the Cardinals off on the right foot. With the pressure on early, the junior from Hungary served out a decisive 7-5 doubles victory with teammate Victoria Sec to secure the opening point of the day. She then breezed to a 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 6 singles to stake BSU to a fast, 2-0 lead.
"Livia just did what she always does," Norris said. "I've said this jokingly, every day is Wimbledon to Livia, even at practice. She played with a ton of intensity and just really brought it."
Ball State also picked up quick, 6-2, 6-2 singles victories from Amy Kaplan at No. 4 and Mariya Polishchuk at No. 2 to clinch the team victory over WKU early on. Kaplan had previously teamed with Emma Peeler for the Cardinals' other doubles victory.
The other three singles matches went deeper, but the Cardinals were able to win two of them. Jessica Braun was a 7-5, 6-4 winner at No. 3, and Rebecca Herrington dug deep to pull out a 10-5 match tiebreaker for a third set at No. 5.
The only singles defeat came at the top spot in the lineup where Peeler dug out of an early hole to force a match tiebreaker before falling 10-8 in a tight one.
Ball State is now halfway through a six-match homestand. The Cardinals are slated to return to action Friday at 6 p.m. against Butler as they seek eight in a row.
"We've been lucky to play some decent teams and have our players get tested in different ways," Norris said. "I think our players recognize that, and I think they are gaining confidence. We know we still have a lot of work to do. We know there are scouting reports out on us now, so we need to play a lot better. But I do think we feel like we're headed in the right direction."
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3,2
#1 Singles Match
123
Cora-Lynn Von Dungen / 0 [WKU]
621
160
#2 Singles Match
12
Laura Bernardos / 0 [WKU]
22
66
#3 Singles Match
12
Tristen Bryant-Otake / 0 [WKU]
54
76
#4 Singles Match
12
Lauren Joch / 0 [WKU]
22
66
#5 Singles Match
123
Lisa Friess / 0 [WKU]
460
641
#6 Singles Match
12
Alexis Cramer / 0 [WKU]
11
66
Order of Finish:
6,4,2,3,1,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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