Friday, March 8
Muncie, Ind.
1 pm
Ball State University
2
vs
5
Northern Illinois University
Photo by: Ball State University Creative Services
Herran & Smith Singles Wins Not Enough to Hold off NIU in MAC Opener
March 08, 2024 | Men's Tennis
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team (6-6, 0-1 MAC) played a tight match but was unable to hold off Northern Illinois (10-2, 1-0 MAC) Friday afternoon in both squads' Mid-American Conference opener.
The doubles point was a nail biter with courts one and two's scores at 5-4. The Huskies had the advantage and would take the win on the top court. Sajin Smith and Eli Herran were down 5-2 on court No. 3 but worked their way back to make it 5-4. Mason Tran and Jacks Lancaster were knotted 6-6 to Armin Koschtojan and Saul Berdullas. The No. 2 BSU twosome would prevail to win the tiebreaker 7-6 (7-3). The point then came down to the No. 3 position which was in another tiebreak situation. Unfortunately, Smith and Herran would lose to Iker Arrastia Gaztambide and Christopher Norlin, 7-6 (7-5).
With the Cardinals trailing the Huskies 1-0 it was important for BSU to start singles play off strong. Ball State took first sets on courts No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6. Herran was the first off the court and knotted the score 1-1 with his quick 6-4, 6-1 exit versus Arrastia Gaztambide.
NIU then went back up 2-1 after taking court two from BSU. Smith breezed past Christopher Norlin only giving up one game posting a 6-1, 6-0 victory. Tran then fell at the No. 3 slot to give back the Huskies a 3-2 edge. The Cardinals had two more chances to complete a comeback on courts No. 1 and No. 5.
Webster was in a three-set thriller while Lancaster was trying to keep in his match after dropping frame one. Webster would end the competition on the top court with a 6-4, 2-6, 2-6 loss to Cheng En Tsai, to give NIU match point.
The Ball State men's tennis team will continue Mid-American Conference action when it welcomes first-year league member UIC to the Northwest Muncie YMCA. First serve is at 1 pm ET.
The doubles point was a nail biter with courts one and two's scores at 5-4. The Huskies had the advantage and would take the win on the top court. Sajin Smith and Eli Herran were down 5-2 on court No. 3 but worked their way back to make it 5-4. Mason Tran and Jacks Lancaster were knotted 6-6 to Armin Koschtojan and Saul Berdullas. The No. 2 BSU twosome would prevail to win the tiebreaker 7-6 (7-3). The point then came down to the No. 3 position which was in another tiebreak situation. Unfortunately, Smith and Herran would lose to Iker Arrastia Gaztambide and Christopher Norlin, 7-6 (7-5).
With the Cardinals trailing the Huskies 1-0 it was important for BSU to start singles play off strong. Ball State took first sets on courts No. 1, No. 4, and No. 6. Herran was the first off the court and knotted the score 1-1 with his quick 6-4, 6-1 exit versus Arrastia Gaztambide.
NIU then went back up 2-1 after taking court two from BSU. Smith breezed past Christopher Norlin only giving up one game posting a 6-1, 6-0 victory. Tran then fell at the No. 3 slot to give back the Huskies a 3-2 edge. The Cardinals had two more chances to complete a comeback on courts No. 1 and No. 5.
Webster was in a three-set thriller while Lancaster was trying to keep in his match after dropping frame one. Webster would end the competition on the top court with a 6-4, 2-6, 2-6 loss to Cheng En Tsai, to give NIU match point.
The Ball State men's tennis team will continue Mid-American Conference action when it welcomes first-year league member UIC to the Northwest Muncie YMCA. First serve is at 1 pm ET.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
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