Sunday, April 16
Muncie, Ind.
1 pm
Ball State University
4
vs
3
University at Buffalo
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Men’s Tennis Ends MAC Regular Season on a High Note with 4-3 Win Over Buffalo
April 16, 2023 | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team (13-9,5-5 MAC) played their hearts out today winning a 4-3 hard fought battle over Buffalo (9-8, 5-5 MAC) Sunday afternoon at the Northwest YMCA.
The Cardinals have secured their spot in next week's 2023 MAC Tournament which will be held on the campus of Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Ball State has won the tournament in Kalamazoo three times, in 1991, 2005 and 2011.
"We had our backs to the wall two weeks ago at Northern Illinois and if we had lost that match, we would have been eliminated from the MAC Tournament," Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "After losing the doubles point today, the guys really stepped up and showed a lot of character. We have won our last three matches to finish third. I am proud of the guys for not getting down and not getting discouraged when things were going bad. It is good to be going into the tournament with some good momentum with getting these two wins this weekend."
After losing the doubles point to Buffalo, Ball State slowly began to make its comeback in singles play.
The Cardinals' No. 2 singles player Vince Orlando knotted the match 1-1 with after winning in straight sets by a score of 6-2 over Buffalo's Simon Wibler. After that, Eli Herran followed suite defeating Buffalo's Theodoris Mitsakos, 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 4 slot.
With Ball State up 2-1, the Bulls tied the match back up at 2-2 after taking court No. 3 from the Cardinals.
Broc Fletcher's impressive three-set thriller over Yu-Shiang Huang (2-6, 6-4, 6-1) at No. 6 singles game BSU back the advantage against Buffalo.
With two courts remaining both in extra sets, Sajin Smith clinched match point for Ball State over Daniels Sanders, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at the No. 5 slot.
The Cardinals have secured their spot in next week's 2023 MAC Tournament which will be held on the campus of Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. Ball State has won the tournament in Kalamazoo three times, in 1991, 2005 and 2011.
"We had our backs to the wall two weeks ago at Northern Illinois and if we had lost that match, we would have been eliminated from the MAC Tournament," Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards said. "After losing the doubles point today, the guys really stepped up and showed a lot of character. We have won our last three matches to finish third. I am proud of the guys for not getting down and not getting discouraged when things were going bad. It is good to be going into the tournament with some good momentum with getting these two wins this weekend."
After losing the doubles point to Buffalo, Ball State slowly began to make its comeback in singles play.
The Cardinals' No. 2 singles player Vince Orlando knotted the match 1-1 with after winning in straight sets by a score of 6-2 over Buffalo's Simon Wibler. After that, Eli Herran followed suite defeating Buffalo's Theodoris Mitsakos, 6-2, 6-2 at the No. 4 slot.
With Ball State up 2-1, the Bulls tied the match back up at 2-2 after taking court No. 3 from the Cardinals.
Broc Fletcher's impressive three-set thriller over Yu-Shiang Huang (2-6, 6-4, 6-1) at No. 6 singles game BSU back the advantage against Buffalo.
With two courts remaining both in extra sets, Sajin Smith clinched match point for Ball State over Daniels Sanders, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at the No. 5 slot.
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