Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
MAC Individual Championship (Western Michigan)
October 25, 2026 | Women's Tennis
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The Ball State women's tennis team delivered a spectacular and deeply inspiring performance this weekend at the third annual Mid-American Conference (MAC) Fall Individual Tennis Championships. Competing against a stacked field of top-tier conference rivals in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the Cardinals showcased not only their immense athletic talent but also an unwavering team chemistry and elite competitive spirit that bodes incredibly well for the program's future.
"I am incredibly proud of the effort and determination our team displayed at the MAC Individual Championships in Kalamazoo," said Ball State head coach Sachin Kirtane. "Coming home with a winning record is a fantastic achievement for this program. Sarah and Gabby did an outstanding job reaching the semifinals and fighting hard in a very tight match, and Priyanka showed immense grit in her razor-thin, three-set semifinal battle. Overall, the team competed exactly the way I wanted them to. I'm incredibly excited to see them carry this momentum forward when we play at Michigan State University starting November 6."
From the opening serves of the tournament, Ball State proved they are a force to be reckoned with. The weekend was heavily highlighted by standout performances across both the singles and doubles brackets, anchored by a phenomenal individual run from Priyanka Rana and an electric doubles display from the powerhouse duo of Sarah Shahbaz and Gabriella Barrera.
In the singles division, Priyanka Rana put on an absolute clinic in perseverance and grit. Battling her way through a highly competitive field, Rana advanced all the way to the prestigious singles semifinals. Her ticket to the semis was punched after a grueling, high-stakes three-set quarterfinal victory that tested her physical endurance and mental toughness. Though she ultimately fell in the semifinals to Buffalo's Aleksandra Kachushkina, Rana pushed her opponent to the absolute limit in a magnificent, razor-thin three-set thriller. Her deep run in the main draw underscored her rising status as one of the most promising singles players in the conference.
The Cardinals' doubles teams were equally spectacular, reinforcing the depth and synergy of this year's roster. Shahbaz and Barrera electrified the courts with a dominant march to the doubles semifinals. They ignited their weekend with a flawless and commanding 8-1 statement victory over Toledo's June Vigneron and Joan Ibanez. Carrying that incredible momentum into the quarterfinals, the duo displayed flawless coordination to secure a thrilling 8-5 triumph over the tough UMass pairing of Amelia Tye and Safina Khabibrakhmanova. While Shahbaz and Barrera narrowly missed out on the finals after a hard-fought 8-6 decision in the semifinals, their exceptional court coverage and strategic brilliance were on full display.
Proving that their competitive fire never wavers, the Cardinals continued to dominate even in consolation action. Gabriella Barrera bounced back beautifully in singles play, demonstrating incredible poise to defeat Bowling Green's Lucia Gaio in a thrilling 6-1, 3-6, 10-4 battle. Meanwhile, the tandem of Sydney Hrehor and Priyanka Rana left no room for doubt in their consolation doubles match, putting on a flawless masterclass to completely shut out Buffalo with a stunning 8-0 victory.
The Cardinals will officially conclude the fall portion of their 2026 schedule when they travel to East Lansing, Michigan, for a highly anticipated weekend tournament at Michigan State University, beginning November 6.
