Women's Tennis Opens MACtion With 5-2 Win Over Western Michigan

Sunday, March 20

Muncie, Ind.

1 pm

Ball State University

Western Michigan University

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Women's Tennis Opens MACtion With 5-2 Win Over Western Michigan

March 20, 2022 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind.- The Ball State women's tennis team (10-2, 1-0 MAC) picked up right where it left off in Mid-American Conference action as the Cardinals opened its 2022 league season with a 5-2 victory over Western Michigan (8-6, 0-1 MAC) Sunday afternoon at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center.

The Cardinals are the reigning 2021 MAC Champions and have earned the right to host this year's upcoming 2022 MAC tournament in Muncie (April 30-May 1). Ball State was also picked to finish second in this year preseason MAC poll.

Under 10th-year head coach Max Norris, the Cardinals own a 7-3 ledger in their MAC openers.

Although, today's competition wasn't easy Ball State's experience came in handy in doubles play as the first point of the match came down to the wire. First off, the court was the Cardinals No. 3 duo of Jessica Braun and Livia Lukacs as the twosome breezed through their match earning a 6-1 decision against the Broncos Kristina Tiraspolsky and Karin Hamilton.

WMU answered back to even doubles play taking the top court from the BSU. With only one court remaining, Emma Peeler and Mariya Polishchuk managed to claim the doubles point with a 6-4 win on court No. 2 and were able to stop Lindsey Ziegler and Kaitlyn Rogosch's late comeback.

In singles, Ball State took first frames on five of the six courts. Polishchuk flew past WMU's Ana Guadiana with a 6-0, 6-1 straight set take down at the No. 2 spot to push the Cardinals lead to 2-0.

Hannah Davies followed in her teammates footsteps by beating the Broncos No. 5 singles player Maya Perkucin, 6-1, 6-4 to make the score 3-0.

After that, the Cardinals' Elena Malykh clinched match point after her 7-5, 6-1 defeat over Rogosch at the No. 6 slot.

The Ball State women's tennis team continues Mid-American Conference action on Friday, March 25 at Buffalo. First serve is at 1 pm ET. The Cardinals will then return home on Sunday, March 27 against Toledo. The time for that match versus the Rockets will be dependent on the weather.