BG tennis coach Penny Dean’s theme for this weekend’s match against Mid-American Conference co-leader Miami is “domination.”
The Falcons (14-2, 3-2) have recently been the thorn in the RedHawks’ (11-5, 5-0) side winning the last two match ups.
Although the Falcons trail the all-time series, 29-5, two of those five wins came last season.
BG defeated MU, 5-2, during the regular season and three weeks later they defeated them again in come-from-behind fashion.
Down 3-0 in the quarterfinal round of the MAC Championships, the Falcons battled back to win the next four points and claim the match.
BG will look to continue its “domination” of the RedHawks today at 1 p.m. in Oxford, Ohio, before it heads to Muncie, Ind., for a match against Ball State tomorrow.
The Falcons will look to get off to an early lead just like they have all season by winning the doubles point.
BG has won the doubles point in 14 of the 16 dual matches, sweeping the three doubles matches on nine of those occasions.
The sophomore duo of Katia Babina and Sam Kintzel lead the team with a 13-1 mark at the third flight, including a 4-0 record in the MAC. The duos of Kelsey Jakupcin/Christine Chiricosta and Andrea Volle/Jenna Nussbaum both are 12-4 at the first and second flights, respectively.
BG will also be relying on its top-four singles players who have combined for 46 wins and 14 losses.
With only three games left on the slate, the Falcons sit tied for third place in the MAC, looking up at league leader’s MU and Western Michigan.
The only thing on BG’s mind is winning its next three games and winning the MAC.
“We’re not satisfied with anything short of first place,” Dean said.
“We just need to keep believing in ourselves and get out there on the court and fight and grind for every single point.”