Men’s Tennis Loses Hard Fought Battle to Michigan State Saturday

Saturday, February 26

Muncie, Ind.

1 p.m.

Ball State University

Michigan State University

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Men’s Tennis Loses Hard Fought Battle to Michigan State Saturday

February 26, 2022 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team (5-5) dropped a hard fought 5-2 battle to Big Ten foe Michigan State (8-3) Saturday afternoon at the Northwest YMCA Tennis Center.

The Cardinals commanded an early advantage over the Spartans by winning the doubles point. The No. 2 doubles tandem of Thibault de Negri and Eli Herran were the first duo off the court giving up only two games to Michigan State's Reed Crocker and Graydon Lair. The doubles tandem went onto take the match by a score of 6-2.

It would be BSU's No. 3 doubles team that would clinch the first point of the match for the Cardinals today over the Spartans, as Parrish Simmons and Vince Orlando prevailed with a 6-3 defeat versus Anthony Pero and Luke Baylis.

Michigan State began to make its comeback in singles taking victories on courts four and one, respectively to go up 2-1 over Ball State.

After that, the remaining four courts were all in three set thrillers.

Danilo Kovacevic then tied the match back up 2-2 after winning frame one 7-6 and falling 6-4 in the second to Lair. Kovacevic then retaliated in the third by posting a 6-4 decision in set three to take the match from Lair in three.

Herran then dropped a tough battle to MSU's Josh Mukherjee at slot No. 6, as did Orlando at position No. 5. After those two tough losses the Spartans had claimed the match their fourth point of the day.

The Ball State men's tennis team will now head to Lajolla, Calif. for the 131st Annual Pacific Coach Doubles Championship March 3-March 6. The Pacific Coach Doubles Championship is the second-oldest tennis event in the United States.