Smith Makes His Return to the Court to Claim Victory for the Cardinals

Friday, January 27

Muncie, Ind.

1 pm

Ball State University

Illinois State University

Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services

Smith Makes His Return to the Court to Claim Victory for the Cardinals

January 27, 2023 | Men's Tennis

Box Score

MUNCIE, Ind. - It was a tightly contested match between the Cardinals (2-0) and the Redbirds (3-1) from start to finish but Sajin Smith returned to the court at the No. 4 spot to take a three-set thriller and clinch the 4-3 match for Ball State Friday afternoon at the Northwest YMCA.

In doubles, all three courts were close matches, but the Cardinals' Danilo Kovacevic and Parrish Simmons were able to take a late breathable lead against the Redbirds Arvid Hjalte and Adrian Dibildox. Kovacevic and Simmons went on to earn the first doubles point on the top court by a score of 6-3.

After that, positions two and three each had a score of 6-5 with Ball State having the advantage over Illinois State. The No. 3 doubles tandem of Jacks Lancaster and Abe Wojtalik secured the doubles point for the Cardinals after posting a 7-5 victory versus the Redbirds' Dominic Anderson and Emiliano Gonzales.

Illinois State quickly knotted the score 1-1 in singles after taking court No. 1 early in singles play. But Ball State's Eli Herran and Petar Petrovic won at the No. 3 and No. 6 positions, respectively to give the Cardinals back the 3-1 edge over the Redbirds.

With three courts remaining, Illinois State tied the match back up 3-3. The victory would come down to Smith who made his season debut on court four. Smith dropped the first set 6-4 but would complete the three-set thriller winning 6-4 and 7-5 in the last two frames to seal the victory for BSU.

The Ball State men's tennis team continues spring action when it travels to Big Ten foe Indiana Sunday, Jan. 29 at 4 pm ET.