When the Falcons take the courts tomorrow, they will be looking to do something they’ve never done before – beat Western Michigan.
The BG tennis team (15-3, 4-3) has never beaten the Broncos in 32 chances, and it doesn’t expect to get any easier this weekend.
WMU, currently ranked No. 62 nationally in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, clinched at least a share of the Mid-American Conference regular-season title for the fourth-straight year.
The Broncos (14-7, 7-0) have won 33-straight MAC regular-season matches, with one of those wins coming against the Falcons last season.
WMU beat BG, 6-1, in the regular season and 4-0 in the MAC Championships. BG’s point was its first since a 6-1 loss against WMU back in the 2000-01 season.
The Falcons are excited about the opportunity to beat the seemingly unbeatable Broncos.
“We have nothing to lose,” Libby Harrison said. “We know they’re a good team, but anything can happen.”
“We see this as an opportunity to prove ourselves, to prove that we belong at the top of the MAC.”
The day will be filled with extra emotions as seniors and double partners Andrea Volle and Jenna Nussbaum will be playing in their final home match.
Coach Penny Dean said Volle and Nussbaum have really come into their own as a doubles team and will be much needed this weekend. The duo is 14-4 in dual matches at the second flight this season.
Beginning with doubles, the Falcons must come ready to play.
“WMU has had a very successful season,” Dean said. “They played good competition all year.”
“They’ll be ready to go, so we need to be ready to go right from the first serve.”
With a win the Falcons will finish with a three-seed in the MAC Championships, while a loss will push them down to sixth.
The Falcons’ final regular-season game on Saturday against the Broncos will be in front of the home crowd at BG’s Keefe Courts at 1 p.m.
If weather is an issue, the match will be moved to Shadow Valley Tennis Club in Toledo where BG has won 16 straight.