Ball State University Athletics

Ball State Men's Tennis Dominates Villanova to Close Spring Break Trip
March 01, 2026 | Men's Tennis
LA JOLLA, Calif. – The Ball State men's tennis team finished its annual spring break training camp on a high note Sunday, securing a convincing 6-1 victory over Villanova (3-6) at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.
"We finish our training camp with the result we were looking for," Ball State head coach Gene Orlando said. "The adjustment to outdoor tennis is never easy, but our guys battled through a busy schedule. This win gives us exactly the kind of confidence we need as we head home to start the MAC season."
The Cardinals seized control from the jump, sweeping the doubles point to set a commanding tone. Building on the momentum from their four-day run at the Pacific Coast tournament, Ball State looked sharp across the lineup. Broc Fletcher and Jenson Bicanic sparked the run with a 6-3 victory at No. 2, followed by a gritty 7-5 win from Nolan Hayward and Andrei Caragea over Villanova's William Monohan and Kush Anand at the No. 3 spot to secure the early lead.
Ball State earned the upper hand early in singles by winning four of the six opening sets, putting the match firmly within reach. Nolan Hayward officially clinched the team victory on court No. 6, outlasting Cameron Kruep in a grueling first-set tiebreaker before rolling to a 6-3 win in the second to seal the deal.
Following a grueling week on the West Coast, the Cardinals return home to kick off Mid-American Conference play this Friday, March 6, at Toledo. The match is slated for a 1:00 p.m. ET start.
"We finish our training camp with the result we were looking for," Ball State head coach Gene Orlando said. "The adjustment to outdoor tennis is never easy, but our guys battled through a busy schedule. This win gives us exactly the kind of confidence we need as we head home to start the MAC season."
The Cardinals seized control from the jump, sweeping the doubles point to set a commanding tone. Building on the momentum from their four-day run at the Pacific Coast tournament, Ball State looked sharp across the lineup. Broc Fletcher and Jenson Bicanic sparked the run with a 6-3 victory at No. 2, followed by a gritty 7-5 win from Nolan Hayward and Andrei Caragea over Villanova's William Monohan and Kush Anand at the No. 3 spot to secure the early lead.
Ball State earned the upper hand early in singles by winning four of the six opening sets, putting the match firmly within reach. Nolan Hayward officially clinched the team victory on court No. 6, outlasting Cameron Kruep in a grueling first-set tiebreaker before rolling to a 6-3 win in the second to seal the deal.
Following a grueling week on the West Coast, the Cardinals return home to kick off Mid-American Conference play this Friday, March 6, at Toledo. The match is slated for a 1:00 p.m. ET start.
Players Mentioned
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