Ball State University Athletics
Ball State University
#1 Buffalo (MAC Tournament Semifinals)
Heartbreak in Buffalo: Cardinals Fall Just Short in MAC Semifinal Thriller
April 18, 2026 | Men's Tennis
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The fourth-seeded Ball State men's tennis team saw its resilient 2026 postseason run come to an end today, falling 4-2 to top-seeded and tournament host Buffalo in a hard-fought semifinal battle at the 2026 Mid-American Conference Tournament Championship.
"It was a tough end to the day for the Cardinals," Ball State first-year head men's tennis coach Gene Orlando said. "We pushed Buffalo to the very edge and were just a few points shy of a major upset. I'm incredibly proud of our seniors, Jacks Lancaster and Broc Fletcher, for their leadership and their knack for clinching big matches—they've truly paved the way for our younger players. The future of this program looks bright; we started four freshmen this year who all gained vital experience and a real taste of success. Next year's seniors, Drew Hayward and Anthony Shalakov, are dedicated program guys who I know will step up as fantastic leaders."
Despite entering as the underdog against the regular-season co-champions, the Cardinals pushed the Bulls to the brink in a match that mirrored the intensity of their narrow regular-season meetings.
Ball State grabbed a quick 1-0 lead over the Bulls by clinching the doubles point. Andrei Caragea and Drew Hayward set the pace with a dominant 6-1 victory at the No. 3 spot. Moments later, the Cardinals' senior duo secured the point on court one, battling to a 6-4 win over Theodore's Mitsakos and Clement Manguy.
Ball State fought back valiantly in singles play to keep the dream of a championship appearance alive. However, the Bulls' veteran lineup proved too strong, clinching the decisive fourth point to secure their place in Sunday's final.
Two matches remained unfinished once Buffalo reached the clinch point, underscoring how closely contested the semifinal match today truly was for the Cardinals.
Caragea was the lone Cardinal to win his singles match taking the three set thriller 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 over Onder Balci on court No. 2.
Players Mentioned
