Ball State Men’s Tennis Digs Deep for Gritty 4-3 Victory Over UIC

Thursday, March 12

Muncie, Ind.

1 pm

Ball State University

UIC

Photo by: Madeline Howell

Ball State Men’s Tennis Digs Deep for Gritty 4-3 Victory Over UIC

March 12, 2026 | Men's Tennis

Final Results

MUNCIE, Ind. – In a match that defined "gritty," the Ball State men's tennis team (7-7, 2-1 MAC) opened their five-match homestand with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC) on Thursday afternoon at the First Serve Tennis Courts.

The Cardinals, coming off a tough road split to open conference play, relied on their depth and resilience to overcome the Flames in a contest that came down to the final court.

The afternoon began with a high-stakes doubles session. After splitting matches on courts one and two, the opening point rested on the No. 3 position. The brothers tandem of Drew and Nolan Hayward showed championship composure, securing a critical 7-5 win to give Ball State a 1-0 lead heading into singles play.

Despite a tense battle for the doubles point, Ball State stayed composed as the match came down to Jacks Lancaster at the top of the lineup. After dropping his opening set to Artem Alekseychuk, the senior roared back to take the next two 7-5, 6-4, clinching the win for the Cardinals. The victory was bolstered by Drew Hayward, who outlasted his opponent in a three-set thriller at the No. 3 spot, and Broc Fletcher, who secured a straight-sets win on court six.

Ball State men's tennis continues its homestand this Saturday, March 14, 2026, hosting Northern Illinois at 1:00 PM ET. Weather permitting, the match will take place at the Foster Adams Family Tennis Complex and Bill Richards Tennis Courts