Ball State University
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Western Michigan University (MAC Tournament Semifinals)
Men's Tennis Set to Compete in MAC Tourney Semifinals Saturday Against Western Michigan
April 19, 2024 | Men's Tennis
The Mid-American Conference Tournament will be held at Toledo (April 20 - April 21)
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State men's tennis team will be the No. 4 seed in this weekend's 2024 Mid-American Conference Tournament which will be hosted by No. 3 Toledo in Toledo, Ohio.Â
The Cardinals will play their first tournament match on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET against the top-seeded Broncos. Ball State enters the tournament with an 12-9 overall record for the year. Ball State split its two-match home and away series against the 2024 MAC regular season champions Western Michigan winning at home 4-3 and then falling to the Broncos later in season by a score of 5-2 in Kalamazoo.Â
The last time the Cardinals competed at the MAC Tourney was in 2023 in Kalamazoo, falling to Western Michigan last year in the semifinals. The last time Ball State reached the title match was in 2019, falling in the championship match to the Broncos.
Ball State last won the MAC Tournament title in 2014 by defeating Buffalo, 4-3, at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center. Ball State head men's tennis coach Bill Richards has led the program to 38 MAC tournament and or regular season titles over his tenure with the Cardinals. Since the MAC tournament format started in 1997, the Cardinals have won it seven times (1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2011, and 2014.)Â
Ball State won its first MAC Championship in 1984 at Western Michigan. The Cardinals went on to win in Kalamazoo three more times after that, in 1991, 2005 and 2011.
A Ball State win will advance the Cardinals to the final round against No. 2 Northern Illinois or No. 2 Toledo at 1 pm ET Sunday. The matches are set to be played at UT Varsity Tennis Courts.Â
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